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Spanish Steps

Washington, D.C.

A terrace reminiscent of Rome's Spanish Steps is tucked away in a little park in Washington, D.C. 

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Spanish Steps Dkallen78 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Spanish Steps Dkallen78 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Fountain at the top of the Spanish Steps Dkallen78 / CC BY-SA 4.0
Spanish Steps Dkallen78 / CC BY-SA 4.0
AgnosticPreachersKid (Creative Commons)
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If you live in the D.C. area, you don’t have to travel far to see the famed Spanish Steps… well, sort of.

Decatur Terrace Park and Fountain was built in the Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, D.C. in 1911. Situated among embassies and stately homes, the small park offers a whimsical stone staircase and lion-head fountain surrounded by beautifully landscaped greenery and full, lush trees.

Designed by Robert E. Cook, the project was undertaken to provide a pedestrian passage between S Street and Decatur Place since the street was too steep for cars. The idea of a terrace park with an elegant staircase emerged.

The stairs were built at the height of the City Beautiful movement, which pushed for the addition of beauty and monumental grandeur in urban planning. This philosophy is also behind the McMillan Plan, which saw the National Mall redesigned into its current iteration with a grassy green lawn flanked by Neoclassical buildings and large monuments.

Today, it is the only D.C. public park to occupy a street. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the hidden aspect of the park, as it is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Over time, the park lost its original name and became colloquially known as the Spanish Steps for its resemblance to the site of the same name in Rome. It’s also not an uncommon wedding venue for District residents who want an intimate and beautiful outdoor space for their nuptials.

replicas stairs urban planning local history parks
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