Lafayette Park

The History

• Lafayette Park has been used as many different things: a racetrack, graveyard, zoo, slave market, an encampment for soldiers during the War of 1812, and also many political protests and celebrations.
• The Lafayette Park was landscaped by Andrew Jackson Downing in pictresque style.
• In 1970, this park and the surrounding buildings were designated as a National Historic Landmark

FUN FACTS!!

• Lafayette Park is also called President's Park because it is located right across from the White House.
• The park has 5 Statues: 4 foreign Revolutionary War heroes and 1 of President Andrew.
• This park is named after the General Lafayette who befriended George Washington and fought in the Revolutionary War.
• He also has a statue in the corner of the park.

The Now
Lafayette Park is a public park, before it was a leisure park for only the president and his family. Next to this park are very important buildings including: The Old Executive Office Building, the Department of the Treasury, St. John's Episcopal Church which is often referred to as the "Church of the Presidents", the Renwick Gallery and the Hay-Adams Hotel. Today the park is a peaceful place, but since it is close to the White House, it is used for demonstrations a lot.