Rawlins Park, Urban park in Foggy Bottom, Washington D.C.
Rawlins Park is a rectangular urban green space in Washington D.C. with marble fountains, rectangular ponds, and grassy areas positioned at different levels connected by stairways. The layout creates distinct zones that visitors discover as they move through the park.
The land was originally part of Hamburgh, an industrial settlement along the Potomac River, before becoming a park space. General John Aaron Rawlins was honored with a monument placed here in 1874, which gave the park its name.
The park sits in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood where government buildings and local life mix together closely. Walking through, you notice how the space feels separate from the surrounding streets, creating a retreat for those working nearby.
The park sits two blocks west of the White House and north of the National Mall, easily accessible through stairways on all four sides. You can enter at any time and move naturally through the space without restrictions.
The park features multiple elevation changes that create separate outdoor rooms, with the lower terrace feeling quite different from the upper level. This vertical arrangement makes the space feel larger and more complex than its actual size suggests.
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