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New Maps Tell History of National Mall

November 16, 2005

The National Mall • Tourists Undeterred by D.C. Murder Spree • Famous Flag is Focus of Museum Makeover • Washington Monument Becomes More Tourist-Friendly • New Maps Tell History of National Mall • Senate Studies Mall Clutter • Senate Asked to Expand National Mall --- • More about Travel

Visitors planning a trip to the nation's capital now can take a "virtual tour" of the National Mall's museums, memorials, and public buildings and also download a print map that tells the history of the Mall as the "stage for our democracy."

Both maps are available free at www.nationalmall.net.

The maps are a public service of the National Mall Third Century Initiative, a program of the National Coalition to Save Our Mall, a nonprofit citizens group.

"We produced these visitor guides to fill a need. The print map tells for the first time the history of the Mall's open space, its function as "stage for our democracy," said W. Kent Cooper, the Initiative's Coordinator.

Based on the work of the Initiative over the past two years, the map describes how the Mall changed in the 20th century. It became the site for civil rights demonstrations, July 4th fireworks, Annual Folklife Festival, Presidential Inaugurations, and more--the people's place and stage for democracy.

Visitors to Washington can pick up the free, colorful, pocket-sized print map at DC visitor centers, the National Building Museum, and in Congressional offices.

The digital interactive map lets potential visitors "tour" the Mall's two-mile-long promenade to locate museums and memorials; learn about their collections, hours and visitor services; connect to relevant websites; and print out a custom map for their next visit.

"These maps are works in progress. We are consulting with tour guides, historians, and others to continually update and improve them, and to develop other services," Cooper said.

The maps are two of several Initiative projects aimed at enhancing the visitor's experience of the Mall. The website also provides a variety of historical resources in the "About the Mall" and "Maps and Multimedia" sections.

In November the Initiative will publish its report Designing for Democracy. A Third Century Mall which analyzes the Mall's needs and offers ideas for how the Mall might grow in the 21st century-the "third century."

The Third Century Mall report will be the focus of the Initiative's presentation at the Corcoran Gallery of Art on December 7.

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