Take a peek at selected images.

Worthy of the Nation

In late 2006, nearly 30 years after the National Capital Planning Commission published Worthy of the Nation, the agency announced the release of the book's second edition.

NCPC partnered with historian Dr. Antoinette Lee, photo archivist Peter Penczer, and The Johns Hopkins University Press to publish Worthy of the Nation: The Planning of Washington, D.C., from L'Enfant to the National Capital Planning Commission.

With more than 250 historic and contemporary photographs, maps, and illustrative site plans, Worthy of the Nation depicts Washington's beginnings, the growth of the city during the 19th century, the role of the federal government in the region's development, and the expansion of the National Capital Region in the post-war era. The revised edition also details the end of the bicentennial era to post-9/11 security planning, how new memorials and museums have redefined the National Mall, and the remarkable revitalization of the District of Columbia's central city.

NCPC Chairman Cogbill and Panelists at "The Shape of Things to Come"

A panel of nationally renowned experts celebrated the book's publication in a symposium hosted by the National Capital Planning Commission on December 6, 2006 at the National Press Club. “The Shape of Things to Come: The Nation’s Capital in 2030” brought together urban planners, architects, and design professionals from across the region.

The symposium explored the impact of security measures on the public realm, the influence of architecture in shaping our national identity, and the role of the federal government in making Washington an economically and culturally vibrant urban center.

When first released in 1977, Worthy of the Nation became a nationally recognized source on urban design and planning in the nation's capital. Author Dr. Antoinette Lee says that the Washington region is a drastically different place than it was when she worked on the original text as a research assistant with noted historian and author Frederick Gutheim. "The downtown was virtually abandoned, filled with empty lots and vacant buildings and nearly devoid of people after dark," explained Lee.

In the new book, Lee describes how the introduction of the Metro system, the completion of Pennsylvania Avenue's revitalization, the arrival of new immigrants, and a surge in government contracting transformed the region over the last 30 years.

Images from the book were the highlight of an exhibit that ran at Washington’s Union Station from April 10 through April 29, 2007 and at the Smithsonian Institution's S. Dillon Ripley Center from October 11, 2007 through February 14, 2008. "Worthy of the Nation: Planning the Nation's Capital" included over 75 photographs and illustrations from the book that depict the challenges of planning for Washington, D.C. The exhibit also featured portions of NCPC's three dimensional scale model of Washington's monumental core and watercolor renderings from NCPC's 1997 Extending the Legacy vision plan.

Worthy of the Nation is available for purchase at many bookstores throughout the National Capital Region and directly from The Johns Hopkins University Press.