Robert Mills

Sites

Bunker Hill Monument, Joseph Hand Villa, Monticello, Monument to Andrew Jackson, National Institute, National Mall, Navy and War Department, Patent Office for the National Institute, Smithsonian Institution, South Carolina Insane Asylum, Treasury Building, Washington Canal, Washington Monument (Baltimore), Washington Monument (D.C.)

Terms

Arcade, Arch, Avenue, Basin, Bed, Botanic Garden, Bridge, Canal, Column/Pillar, Conservatory, Fence, Fountain, Gardenesque, Hothouse, Mall, Obelisk, Piazza/Veranda/Porch/Portico, Picturesque, Plot/Plat, Shrubbery, Square, Summerhouse, Terrace/Slope, View/Vista, Walk, Wall

Texts

• c.1841, in a letter to Robert Dale Owen, describing the proposed Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (Scott, ed., 1990: n.p.)

"Three spacious avenues (of the city) center eithin these grounds, which at some future day when improved will form three interesting vistas."

• 23?, February 1841, in a letter to Joel R. Poinsett, describing a design for the national Mall, Washington, D.C. (Scott, ed., 1990: n.p.)

"The relative position of the Capitol, President's House, and other public buildings are laid down, as also the position of the proposed buildings for the Institution; the adjacent streets and avenues are also shown, with the line of the Canal which courses through the City, at the foot of the Capitol hill to the Eastern Branch near the Navy Yard, thus making of the south western section, a complete island." [Fig. 1]

• 23?, February 1841, in a letter to Joel R. Poinsett, describing his design for the national Mall, Washington, D.C. (Scott, ed., 1990: n.p.)

"The main building for the Institution is located about 300 feet south of the [[wall] fronting the Botanic garden, from which it is separated by a circular road, in the centre of which is a fountain of water from the basin of which pipes are led underground thro' the walks of the garden, for irrigating the same at pleasure, the fountains may be supplied from the canal flowing near the north wall of inclosure." [Fig. 2]

• 23?, February 1841, in a letter to Joel R. Poinsett, describing his design for the national Mall, Washington, D.C. (Scott, ed., 1990: n.p.)

“Agreeably to your requisition to prepare a

plan of improvement to that part of the Mall lying between 7th and 12th Street West for a botanic garden . . . I have the honor to submit the following Report. . . .

“The principle upon which this plan is founded is two fold, one is to provide suitable space for a Botanic garden, the other to provide locations for subjects allied to agriculture, the propagation of useful and ornamental trees native and foreign, the provision of sites for the erection of suitable buildings to accommodate the various subjects to be lectured on and taught in the Institution. . . .

“The Botanic garden is laid out in the centre fronting and opening to the south. On each side of this the grounds are laid out in serpentine walks and in picturesque divisions forming plats for grouping the various trees to be introduced and creating shady walks for those visiting the establishments. . . .

“The main building for the Institution is located about 300 feet south of the wall fronting the Botanic garden, from which it is separated by a circular road, in the centre of which is a fountain of water from the basin of which pipes are led underground thro’ the walks of the garden, for irrigating the same at pleasure, the fountains may be supplied from the canal flowing near the north wall of inclosure.” [Fig. 3]