Project Links
Removal of Memorialization Elements from the Francis G. Newlands Fountain
Rock Creek Park » Removal of Memorialization Elements from the Francis G. Newlands Fountain » Document List
New: December 19, 2025: The meeting notes from the second Consulting Parties meeting have been uploaded to this project website. They can be accessed by clicking on the "Document List" link on the left-hand side of this page.
In addition, the presentation from the second Consulting Parties meeting has been uploaded to this project website and is open for comment through midnight January 6, 2025. The presentation document and the form for comments can be accessed by clicking on the "Open for Comment" link on the left-hand side of this page. Once there, click on the "Presentation Given at Second Consulting Parties Meeting, Proposed Removal of Newlands Memorialization Elements" link to access the document and the on-line comment form.
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The National Park Service (NPS), Rock Creek Park, is proposing to remove the memorialization elements from the fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in northwestern Washington, DC (U.S. Reservation 335A).
Authorized by Congress in 1932 and dedicated in 1933, the fountain was intended as a memorial to U.S. Representative and Senator Francis Griffith Newlands (1848-1917). Newlands was an advocate for a greater role for the federal government in conservation. He was also a vocal white supremacist and an advocate for racist federal policy. Recent historical events have resulted in civic and legislative efforts to remove Newlands' name from the fountain, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 based on its artistic merits and association with Newlands.
The NPS proposes to remove the physical memorialization elements from the Francis G. Newlands Fountain. There are currently three memorialization elements on and near the fountain. The fountain's south wall bears an inscription honoring Newlands and his name is also inscribed on the top of the coping stones. A later bronze plaque celebrating Newlands is in the adjacent pavement and is not a historic element.
Specifically, this project would entail the following actions:
* Removal of eight coping stones from the southern side of the fountain the bears the inscription "Newlands Memorial Fountain" and replacement with coping stones of the same size, design, and materials as the existing ones, but without any inscription.
* Removal of the inscription on the vertical tablet on the fountain's south wall.
* Removal of the bronze plaque from the paving.
There was a Consulting Parties meeting on the proposed project on Wednesday, December 18, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am EST. Documents related to this meeting are posted in the Documents Links, which is located on the left-hand side of this screen.
In addition, the presentation from the second Consulting Parties meeting has been uploaded to this project website and is open for comment through midnight January 6, 2025. The presentation document and the form for comments can be accessed by clicking on the "Open for Comment" link on the left-hand side of this page. Once there, click on the "Presentation Given at Second Consulting Parties Meeting, Proposed Removal of Newlands Memorialization Elements" link to access the document and the on-line comment form.
- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
The National Park Service (NPS), Rock Creek Park, is proposing to remove the memorialization elements from the fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in northwestern Washington, DC (U.S. Reservation 335A).
Authorized by Congress in 1932 and dedicated in 1933, the fountain was intended as a memorial to U.S. Representative and Senator Francis Griffith Newlands (1848-1917). Newlands was an advocate for a greater role for the federal government in conservation. He was also a vocal white supremacist and an advocate for racist federal policy. Recent historical events have resulted in civic and legislative efforts to remove Newlands' name from the fountain, which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 based on its artistic merits and association with Newlands.
The NPS proposes to remove the physical memorialization elements from the Francis G. Newlands Fountain. There are currently three memorialization elements on and near the fountain. The fountain's south wall bears an inscription honoring Newlands and his name is also inscribed on the top of the coping stones. A later bronze plaque celebrating Newlands is in the adjacent pavement and is not a historic element.
Specifically, this project would entail the following actions:
* Removal of eight coping stones from the southern side of the fountain the bears the inscription "Newlands Memorial Fountain" and replacement with coping stones of the same size, design, and materials as the existing ones, but without any inscription.
* Removal of the inscription on the vertical tablet on the fountain's south wall.
* Removal of the bronze plaque from the paving.
There was a Consulting Parties meeting on the proposed project on Wednesday, December 18, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am EST. Documents related to this meeting are posted in the Documents Links, which is located on the left-hand side of this screen.