kids encyclopedia robot

Franklin Square (Washington, D.C.) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
John Barry statue, Franklin Park - Washington, DC
The statue of Commodore John Barry (Boyle) stands on the west side of Franklin Square. You can see One Franklin Square, a very tall building in Washington, D.C., behind it.

Franklin Square is a public park, like a town square, located in downtown Washington, D.C.. Many people believe it was named after Benjamin Franklin, a famous American inventor and statesman. The park is surrounded by K Street NW to the north, 13th Street NW to the east, I Street NW to the south, and 14th Street NW to the west. You can easily get there using the Washington Metro at the McPherson Square station, which is just a short walk away.

What You Can See at Franklin Square

This park is built on a slight slope, going uphill from I Street to K Street. It's a beautiful place with many large trees, lots of green grass, and plenty of benches where you can sit and relax. In the middle of the park, there's a lovely fountain. On the west side, you'll find a statue of Commodore John Barry, a hero from the American Revolutionary War. This statue was put there in 1914.

History of Franklin Square

Franklin Square has a long and interesting history. It was originally a place with natural springs, which are spots where water comes up from the ground. In 1791, when the city of Washington, D.C., was being planned, this specific square wasn't set aside for any special use. It wasn't until 1832 that the government bought the land and turned it into a park. Even though it's often said, there's no definite proof that the park was named after Benjamin Franklin.

During the American Civil War, which happened from 1861 to 1865, the park was used as a camp for soldiers. They would gather around the park's springs. You could hear bugle calls and sentry orders, and sometimes even the sounds of injured soldiers passing by.

For many years, the park didn't have many improvements. But in the 1870s and 1800s, new landscaping, benches, and walking paths were added. The park's last big makeover happened in 1935. The government's Public Works Administration gave the city money to improve Franklin Square. During this renovation, a new fountain, a stone plaza, concrete pathways, and new trees were added. Even though some parts were updated in 1976, the park mostly looks today as it did in 1935.

Franklin Square covers about 4.79 acres (about 19,380 square meters) and is managed by the National Park Service. By 2012, the park needed a lot of repairs. The paths were broken, and people walking through the grass to take shortcuts had worn down the lawn. In March 2013, the D.C. government asked for ideas to redesign the park. They wanted it to be able to host many different fun activities. The plans included flexible seating, food stands, public restrooms, and better landscaping, especially around the park's edges. The city set aside $300,000 for the design work.

In August 2020, Franklin Square was closed for a big renovation project. This project involves planting new trees, creating new flexible seating areas, adding food kiosks, setting up space for art exhibits, and building new public restrooms.

Historic Buildings Around Franklin Square

Many interesting buildings stand around Franklin Square:

  • Franklin School: Across 13th Street, to the east of the square, is the historic Franklin School. This building was a great example of modern design when it was built. It's also famous because Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, sent his first wireless message from here on June 3, 1880. He sent a message using a beam of light to a window in a building nearby. Today, the Franklin School is home to Planet Word, a language arts museum that opened in October 2020.
  • Clara Barton's Residence: Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross, lived next to the park at 1326 I Street. She held the very first official meeting of the American Red Cross in her home in May 1881.
  • One Franklin Square: Located at 1301 K St. NW, just north of the park, this building became the new home of The Washington Post newspaper in late 2015. It is the tallest commercial building in Washington, D.C.
  • The Hamilton Hotel: Also to the north, at 1001 14th Street, stands The Hamilton Hotel. This hotel is part of the Historic Hotels of America. It was built in 1921 and was renovated in 2013.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Plaza Franklin (Washington D. C.) para niños

kids search engine
Franklin Square (Washington, D.C.) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.