Decatur Terrace | |
|---|---|
| Public stairs | |
 | |
| Design | Robert E. Cook |
| Opening date | 1911 |
| Location | 22nd Street NW just south of S Street NW Washington, D.C. |
  Decatur Terrace | |
| Coordinates:38°54′49″N77°02′56″W / 38.91372°N 77.04879°W /38.91372; -77.04879 | |
Decatur Terrace, commonly known as theSpanish Steps, is aterrace in theKalorama neighborhood ofWashington, D.C., located on 22nd Street NW, connecting Decatur Place NW and S Street NW. Formally namedDecatur Terrace Steps and Fountain, the nickname is a reference to theSpanish Steps inRome. Washington's Spanish Steps are listed in theNational Register of Historic Places as a contributing feature in theSheridan-Kalorama Historic District, designated in 1989.
Bids for construction of Decatur Terrace opened in June 1905.[1] Decatur Terrace was built in 1911.[2][3] The Washington DC Municipal Office of Public Works and Grounds determined that the steepescarpment made construction of a street impractical, as it would require destroying adjacent building sites. A ramp would have been difficult for carriages and automobiles and uncomfortable for pedestrians.[4] In 1905, District Commissioners decided to inaugurate a "park improvement idea" in lieu of a driveway.[5] Property along theright-of-way was deeded to the city for the construction of steps and an adjacent park. Decatur Terrace is Washington's only example of a staircase constructed on land dedicated to a street.[2]
The steps and fountain were designed by local architectRobert E. Cook for the Municipal Office of Public Works.[3][6] The stone steps were designed followingBeaux-Arts precepts, reflecting the aesthetic preferences made popular in Washington, D.C., by theCity Beautiful movement.
The broad staircase has four levels. It is widest at its low, southern terminus near Decatur Place, transitioning upwards towards a shallow brick terrace and a second tier of stairs bordered by planting beds. Twinbalustrade-lined steps curve around an oval-shaped basin before connecting to a broad terrace on S Street. A granite lion-head fountain is located in the basin at the top of the steps.[3][5] The area is lined with a mix of magnolias, eastern red cedars, oaks, and other flowering trees. To the east of the Spanish Steps, a brick and stone retaining wall with balustrade creates and defines a formal side garden for the Codman-Davis House.[3] The Codman-Davis House was built as a home for wealthy widows of theConfederate military.[7]
Due to severe erosion and a car collision that destroyed the original stonebalustrade and fountain, the steps and landscape were restored in 1999.[6]
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