Pierre Charles L'Enfant’s 1791 plan of Washington

The Library of Congress holds an early 1791 manuscript plan by Pierre Charles L'Enfant titled 'Plan of the city intended for the permanent seat of the government of the United States.' This plan is the principal historic document showing L'Enfant’s original layout for streets, public squares, and key ceremonial axes of the federal city. Scholars and planners consult the map as a primary source for understanding the original design intentions for Washington, D.C. The manuscript is part of the Library’s cartographic and historic collections.