Capital Engineers: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Development of Washington, D.C., 1790-2004

by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is best known for its water resources and environmental work and its construction of facilities on military bases; however, in its long history the Corps has performed many other missions, such as the critical role in the development of Washington, D.C. The purpose of this book is to bring to the public’s awareness the depth of the Corps’ involvement in the design, development, construction, and maintenance of our Nation’s capital by effectively chronicling its history and showcasing rare images, maps, and drawings. Select chapters discuss the Corps’ involvement in designing and constructing the still-existing water supply system; designing and constructing military forts to protect the Nation’s capital from attack; refurbishing and expanding the U.S. Capitol; completing the Washington Monument; constructing many large buildings including the Pentagon and Library of Congress; designing and constructing roadways, major bridges, Washington National Airport, and the many monuments; refurbishing the White House; designing and maintaining the many parks; and planning highways; to name a few.

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2007

Reviews

[Michael Grizer (He-Him) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for anyone who lives in DC and wants to understand how the city came to be what it is. Looking forward to the next update.