| 16th Street Northwest (washington, D.c.) |
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Part of Pierre L'Enfant 's design for the city, 16th Street begins just north of the White House across Lafayette Park at H Street and continues due north in a straight line passing K Street , Meridian Hill Park , Rock Creek Park , and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center before crossing Eastern Avenue into Silver Spring, Maryland where it ends at Georgia Avenue . The Maryland portion of the street is designated Maryland State Highway 390. The entire street is 7½ miles (12 km) long. From K Street to the District line, 16th Street is part of the National Highway System . The Washington Meridian , a prime meridian once in use in the United States , follows 16th Street NW. Early in the city's history, many foreign Embassies located on 16th Street because of its proximity to the White House. Many religious denominations followed suit by building significant churches on the street to serve symbolically as embassies, thus earning the street the nickname "Church Row." While most of the embassies have moved to Embassy Row and other parts of the city, most of the churches remain. It has for half a century been home to D.C. black elite. Residing in 80-90 year old tudor mansions it is the chosen neighborhood of accomplished African Americans residing in Washington, D.C. A pair of similarly named streets, 16th Street Northeast and 16th Street Southeast, are 3 miles (5 km) away in the northeast and southeast quadrants of Washington. They are contiguous with each other and parallel to 16th Street NW. RONALD REAGAN BOULEVARD In Boulevard" in honor of the former President Of The United States . Mayor Anthony A. Williams objected on the grounds that the proposal changes Pierre L'Enfant's 1791 design for the city and would have cost an estimated $1 million for new signs and maps. The plan was ultimately squashed by Rep. Tom Davis , chairman of the House Government Reform Committee , and a fellow Republican representing Washington's Virginia suburbs. SOURCE |