Farragut Square
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Farragut_square_from_southeast.jpg
Farragut Square is a city square located in Washington, DC's Ward 2. It is bordered by K Street, Northwest on the North, Connecticut Avenue NW on the East, I Street NW to the South, and 17th Street NW on the West. It is serviced by two stops on the Washington Metro, Farragut North on the Red Line and Farragut West on the Blue and Orange lines.
In the center of the square is a statue of David G. Farragut, a Union admiral in the American Civil War famous for rallying his fleet with the cry, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" Its only inscription is "Farragut"[1] (http://sandstead.com/images/washington/various/REAM_Vinnie_Admiral_Farragut_ded_1881_bronze_Farragut_Square_LS_d100_07.jpg). The statue was sponsored by an act of Congress, authorizing $20,000 on April 16, 1872. It was sculpted by Vinnie (Ream) Hoxie and erected April 25, 1881 [2] (http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/nace/adhia4.htm).
![[1]](http://sandstead.com/images/washington/various/REAM_Vinnie_Admiral_Farragut_ded_1881_bronze_Farragut_Square_LS_d100_07.jpg){kind=link}
Farragut_square_statue.jpg
The statue and park are maintained by the National Park Service and administered as part of its National Mall and Memorial Parks unit. A proposal to build an underground parking garage below it was rejected in 1961.
Farragut Square is a hub of downtown DC, at the center of a bustling daytime commercial and business district. Sometimes events are scheduled for the lunchtime crowds which gather in and around the square, such as the free "Farragut Sounds in the Square" jazz concert series, held every Thursday from noon to 2 PM from July 3 to August 19. It is also a popular site for leafletting, for both commercial promotions and political activity such as canvassing and demonstrations.
The most prominent institution on the square is the Army Navy Club, on the southeast. There is little residential property in the area, and the square is mostly quiet after business hours. Many of the various sandwich shops and coffeehouses which cater to neighborhood workers close before the dinner hour, as do the many street vendors. In recent years, however, especially since the 2003 rehabilitation of the park, movie screenings and similar evening activities have become more common, as have nightclubs in adjacent downtown areas.
External links
- AOL CityGuide: Washington, DC - What's Going On - Farragut Square (http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/washington/entertainment/venue.adp?sbid=51920)