Latrobe Gate facts for kids
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Main Gate, Washington Navy Yard
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | 8th and M Street, SE Washington, D.C. United States |
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| Built | 1806 (altered in 1881) |
| Architect | Benjamin Henry Latrobe |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 73002098 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
| Designated NHLDCP | June 19, 1973 |
The Latrobe Gate is a really old and important gatehouse at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.. It's also known as the Main Gate of the Navy Yard. This gate was built in 1806 and changed a bit in 1881. It serves as the main entrance to the U.S. Navy's oldest base on land.
The gate shows off two cool styles of building design: Greek Revival and Italianate. A famous architect named Benjamin Henry Latrobe designed it. He also designed other important buildings like St. John's Episcopal Church and parts of the United States Capitol. The Latrobe Gate is one of the oldest buildings in the country that still shows the Greek Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.
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History of the Latrobe Gate
The Washington Navy Yard was created by a special law from Congress on July 23, 1799. A few years later, President Thomas Jefferson picked Benjamin Latrobe to design a place to fix ships there. Even though Congress didn't approve all of Latrobe's plans, he became the "Engineer of the Navy Department" in 1804.
Designing the Main Gate
Plans for the Main Gate were approved in 1805 by Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith. The gate was built between 1805 and 1806. Latrobe's design was in the Greek Revival style, which was quite new and bold at the time. Some older architects didn't like it. For example, William Thornton, who was the first Architect of the Capitol, said the gate showed "bad taste."
However, the Greek Revival style soon became very popular in America. People thought it was a good symbol for the young country's democracy, because democracy started in Ancient Greece.
Surviving the War of 1812
During the War of 1812, British forces attacked Washington, D.C.. The Navy Yard was a main target and was burned down along with much of the city in 1814. Luckily, the Latrobe Gate was one of only three buildings at the Navy Yard that survived the fire!
Later Changes and Marine Guards
In 1881, a Marine barracks (a building where soldiers live) was built around and over the Main Gate. This new brick building has an Italianate style. It is two stories tall above the gate and three stories tall on each side.
This building is the oldest Marine guardhouse in the United States that has been used continuously. Marines still work there today. The Marines at the Latrobe Gate are in charge of raising and lowering the American flag outside the house of the Chief of Naval Operations.
