Farragut Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Farragut Square |
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Farragut Square as seen from its southern border, with Connecticut Avenue's office-block canyon stretching to the northwest behind the statue.
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| Public transit access |      Farragut North, Farragut West |
Farragut Square is a lively public park in Washington, D.C.. It's located in the city's Ward 2 and is surrounded by important streets like K Street NW and Connecticut Avenue. This park is like a twin to McPherson Square, which is just two blocks away.
The square is a very busy spot in downtown D.C.. It's right in the middle of a big area with lots of businesses and offices. You'll find major hotels, law firms, news offices, and many restaurants here. There are even two underground food courts!
Sometimes, special events happen in the square for the people who work nearby. For example, the "Farragut Fridays" series offers outdoor work and relaxation spaces. The park is also a popular place for outdoor movies and yoga classes. Because so many people walk through the area, it's a favorite spot for food trucks, people handing out flyers, and even TV crews asking for opinions. It's also used for commercial promotions and political activities like talking to voters or holding small demonstrations.
A famous building on the square is the Army Navy Club. Since the 1960s, most of the buildings around the square are offices, not homes. This means the area gets quiet after business hours. Many sandwich shops and coffeehouses close early because they mostly serve workers during the day. However, in recent years, especially after the park was improved in 2003, more evening activities like movie screenings have started happening.
You can easily get to Farragut Square using the Washington Metro train system. There are two nearby stations: Farragut North (on the Red Line) and Farragut West (on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines).
Admiral David Farragut Statue
In the middle of Farragut Square, you'll find a large statue of David G. Farragut. He was a brave Union admiral during the American Civil War. He is famous for shouting, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" to his fleet. He was also the very first Admiral in the U.S. Navy. The statue only has his last name, "Farragut," written on it.
The U.S. Congress approved money for the statue on April 16, 1872. It cost $20,000. The statue was created by a sculptor named Vinnie (Ream) Hoxie. It was officially dedicated on April 25, 1881, by President James A. Garfield and First Lady Lucretia Garfield.
The National Park Service takes care of both the statue and the park. They are part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks group. In 1961, there was a plan to build an underground parking garage beneath the park, but it was not approved.
