The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is one of the most important and highly visible urban public spaces in the U.S. It is considered by many Americans to be “the nation’s front yard.” Yet few have written about the role of this public space in the twenty-first century.

In The National Mall, Lisa Benton-Short explores the critical issues that are redefining and reshaping this extraordinary public space. Her work focuses on three contemporary and interrelated debates about public space: the management challenges faced by federal authorities, increased demands for access and security post 9/11, and the role of the public in the Mall’s long-term planning and development plans. By taking a holistic view of the National Mall and analyzing the unique twenty-first century challenges it faces, Lisa Benton-Short provides a fluid, cohesive, and timely narrative that is as extraordinary as the Mall itself.

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Plates

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: From Grand Avenue to Public Space: A Brief History of the Mall

Part I: Management Challenges

Chapter 2: Neglecting the Mall

Chapter 3: Managing the Mall

Part II Use and Development Pressures

Chapter 4: Making Space for the Dream

Chapter 5: Brawl on the Mall

Chapter 6: Securing the Mall

Part III Planning and Public Participation

Chapter 7: Whose Mall is It?

Chapter 8: The Right to the Mall

Chapter 9: Envisioning a 21^st Century Mall

Conclusion

Notes and References

Lisa Benton-Short is Chair and associate professor in the Department of Geography at George Washington University and Senior Fellow with the Sustainability Collaborative.