THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING BASIN
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND SURROUNDING AREA
The Lincoln Memorial, while it terminates the Mall composition, has a position similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in that from it radiate drives and parkways in all directions—the Rock Creek Parkway to the north; westward across the Memorial Bridge to the Arlington National Cemetery, connecting also with the Mount Vernon Highway, the Lee Highway, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway; southward to East Potomac Park; and eastward along the Mall to the Capitol. The whole area is a remarkable achievement in city planning and shows what can be done with reclaimed land, for 20 to 25 years ago all the land surrounding the Lincoln Memorial was swampy.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Basin is 2,000 feet long and 160 feet wide. It has an average depth of about 3¹⁄₂ feet and reflects the entire Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It is lined with trees and walks that will ultimately extend to the Capitol. The beauty of the future Mall treatment between the Capitol and the Washington Monument is indicated by the development between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
The water gate is a part of the great Lincoln Memorial composition. It consists of granite steps 206 feet wide at the top and 230 feet wide at the bottom.
Constitution Avenue will be the great “Memorial Boulevard” from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, and thence to Arlington National Cemetery.
Immediately to the south of the reflecting basin on the north and south axis is the marble band stand erected as the District of Columbia World War Memorial.
THE ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
The Arlington Memorial Bridge was built under the supervision of the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, of which the President is chairman. The Commission of Fine Arts was consulted and advised as to the plans.
The project of building the Arlington Memorial Bridge has been before Congress since 1884. Previous to that time Daniel Webster, in an address on July 4, 1851, at the laying of the corner stone for enlarging the United States Capitol, referred to it as follows: