A Grand Plan

The nation’s capital was conceived as a glorious symbol of the American democracy and it became precisely that. But it has also developed into a vibrant urban center that juxtaposes a monumental core with residential neighborhoods beyond. Washington: Symbol and City, an exhibition that recently reopened at the National Building Museum, explains in a story line that commences with the very beginnings of the new American capital and concludes with 20th-century revitalization efforts why the city is such an intriguing study in urban planning.