Bulfinch Gatehouse (Washington, D.C.)

 NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, gatehouse, interesting place

During the early part of the 1800s, the Mall was heavily wooded and open space used in much the same way as an early British commons. Some DC residents allowed their cattle to graze on the open lands of the Mall and, it is said, the cattle developed a habit of wandering onto the grounds of the new Capitol Building and (perhaps) walking into the chambers and disturbing the debates.

Congress finally directed the Architect of the Capitol, Charles Bulfinch, to address the problem. His solution was to raise an iron fence around the grounds. This gatehouse, its companion at 15th and Constitution, and four stone posts (three of which are placed at the corners of the 15th and Constitution intersection and one of which stands at 7th and Constitution) were all part of the structure that held the fence in place.



More Charles Bulfinch designed former portions of the Capitol fence, see:

Bulfinch Gatehouse relocated to Constitution Ave & 15th St:
wikimapia.org/#lat=38.8925944&lon=-77.0326942&z=18&l=0...

Three Bulfinch Gateposts relocated to Constitution Ave & 15th St:
wikimapia.org/#lat=38.8926069&lon=-77.034207&z=18&l=0&...

One Bulfinch Gatepost relocated to Constitution Ave & 7th St:
wikimapia.org/#lat=38.8919733&lon=-77.022011&z=20&l=0&...

Charles Bulfinch info:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bulfinch