Building a Park on the Meridian

Meridian Hill Park under Construction. It took more than 20 years to get to this point. After the Civil War, Meridian Hill was split up to be sold, and in 1887, the Hendersons, a wealthy couple, purchased several of the lots and built the Henderson Castle on the west side of 16th Street.

Mary Foote Henderson dedicated much of her life to getting the park built, which she initially proposed the land to be used as the President’s house in 1890, rendering pictured below. The park idea won, and the land was bought by Congress in 1910.

The initial plans for the park were created by the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds. In 1917, architect Horace Peaslee took over as the lead for the Meridian Hill Park project. Mary Henderson died in 1931, five years before the park was completed.