THE LEAFLET
D.C.’s Parks through the Ages: Lincoln Park Storymap
It is a massive understatement to say that D.C. and its parks are full of history. While the National Mall is often the site of some of the largest and most memorable historical events, D.C.’s lesser known but equally well loved parks are also chock a block full of history.
While inventorying trees with the Urban Forestry Division and updating our Tree Inventory Map we realized that as we discovered, identified, and measured the history of a particular park’s trees, we could also learn about the dynamic history of D.C.’s parks. Couple that with our love of maps and data and voila – introducing our Park Storymaps. Up first? Perennial Capitol Hill favorite Lincoln Park.
Named Lincoln Square in honor of the martyred President in 1867, this park was once home to Lincoln General Hospital, the largest military hospital for injured Union soldiers during the Civil War. Throughout the 1960s Lincoln Park served as the site of numerous civil rights rallies. Today, this park is a well-loved neighborhood amenity. It’s a destination for its memorial significance and often, as simply a flourishing open green space amidst the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill.
