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General Highway History

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General Highway History

Pennsylvania Avenue Old Executive Building

On the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, across from the Renwick and Blair House, is the Old Executive Office Building, which was completed in 1888 after 17 years of construction. It houses White House staff. Calling it "ornate" doesn't begin to describe it. When the humorist and novelist Mark Twain tried to describe it, he came up with: "the ugliest building in America." President Harry Truman agreed. He called it a "monstrosity." Part of it is open for tours, but not on a Saturday.

Pennsylvania Avenue Comes to an End

That is the end of ceremonial Pennsylvania Avenue. The avenue continues on beyond the Old Executive Office Building. It also continues east of the Capitol. Beyond the White House and the Capitol, though, it is no longer the ceremonial avenue. It is just another major city street.

Back at your hotel, you get out one of the postcards you bought. It shows a view of the White House. You address it to a friend back home, then stop to think. What can you say about Pennsylvania Avenue. Finally, you write, "I just walked up Pennsylvania Avenue. My feet hurt. Wish you were here."

Pennsylvania Avenue Blair House

You continue your walk a little farther. Alongside Lafayette Square, concrete posts block the side street called Jackson Place. The post nearest the park looks like it has been hit by a car or truck-the concrete has been cracked off, revealing the metal post inside.

Pennsylvania Avenue Lafayette Square

A short distance away, you read another protester's signboard: LIVE BY THE BOMB, DIE BY THE BOMB. Still another protester stands by a sign that is hard to argue with: WANTED: WISDOM AND HONESTY.