90-624: Foggy Bottom is a neighborhood of Washington, D.C. , United States , located in the city's northwest quadrant. It stretches west of the White House towards the Potomac River , north of the National Mall , east of Georgetown , south of the West End neighborhood and west of Downtown D.C . The neighborhood is best known for hosting the headquarters of the U.S. Department of State , for which
180-457: A Grammy Award in 1996. The Kennedy Center is the only U.S. institution that presents a free performance 365 days a year, daily at 6pm (12 noon on December 24). The Millennium Stage, created as part of the center's Performing Arts for Everyone initiative in 1997 and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs , features a broad spectrum of performing arts, from dance and jazz, to chamber music and folk, comedy, storytelling and theater. In
270-504: A public–private partnership . Its activities include educational and outreach initiatives, almost entirely funded through ticket sales and gifts from individuals, corporations, and private foundations. The original building, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone , was constructed by Philadelphia contractor John McShain , and is administered as a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution . An earlier design proposal called for
360-660: A German community was founded by many German immigrants. In 1768, Funk sold two lots of territory to both the German Lutheran and the German Presbyterian communities. The lot that was sold to the German Lutherans was located on the corner of 20th and G Street. The lot sold to the German Presbyterians was located on the southeast corner of 22nd and G Street. The Lutheran lot would not be in use until 1833 and
450-533: A Pulitzer Prize-winner; William Bolcom 's Sixth Symphony, Roger Reynolds 's george WASHINGTON , and Michael Daugherty 's UFO , a concerto for solo percussion and orchestra. In addition to its regular season concerts, the National Symphony Orchestra presents outreach, education, and pops programs, as well as concerts at Wolf Trap each year. The annual American Residencies for the Kennedy Center
540-476: A commissioning program for new ballet and dance works. These works have been created by America's foremost choreographers—Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch , and Merce Cunningham—for leading American dance companies including American Ballet Theatre , Ballet West , Houston Ballet , Pacific Northwest Ballet , Pennsylvania Ballet , and the San Francisco Ballet . The Kennedy Center formerly supported and produced
630-406: A committee of five U.S. historians. The Kennedy Center presents festivals celebrating cities, countries, and regions of the world. The festivals are filled with a wide range of performing arts, visual arts, cuisine, and multi-media. In 2008, the center presented an exploration of the culture of Japan entitled Japan! culture + hyperculture . The 2009 Arab festival was an unprecedented exploration of
720-507: A free performance on March 1, 1997. In 1999, the center began web-casting each night's live performance, and continues to archive and maintain each event in a database of over 3,000 performances which may be accessed via the center's website. Performing Arts for Everyone initiatives also include low- and no-cost tickets available to performances on every stage of the Kennedy Center, and several outreach programs designed to increase access to Kennedy Center tickets and performances. An initiative of
810-653: A magnet high school, on the GWU campus. 38°53′54″N 77°02′56″W / 38.89833°N 77.04889°W / 38.89833; -77.04889 List of neighborhoods of the District of Columbia by ward Neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. , the capital of the United States , are distinguished by their history, culture, architecture, demographics, and geography. The names of 131 neighborhoods are unofficially defined by
900-438: A month. These prices fluctuated often because of the available jobs and the condition of the houses. Older houses were typically cheaper than new homes, only some of which came with running water, gas heaters or cooling systems. Statistics suggest that, on average, the greater wealth arose from the majority of white residents, but also that black wealth was steadily increasing due to new job patterns. In 1856, construction began on
990-671: A more curvy, spaceship-inspired building similar to how the Watergate complex appears today. An extension to the Durell Stone Building was designed by Steven Holl and opened in 2019. The center receives annual federal funding to pay for building maintenance and operation. The idea for a national cultural center dates to 1933 when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt discussed ideas for the Emergency Relief and Civil Works Administration to create employment for unemployed actors during
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#17328450948191080-503: A national theater resurfaced in 1950, when U.S. Representative Arthur George Klein of New York introduced a bill to authorize funds to plan and build a cultural center. The bill included provisions that the center would prohibit any discrimination of cast or audience. In 1955, the Stanford Research Institute was commissioned to select a site and provide design suggestions for the center. From 1955 to 1958, Congress debated
1170-470: A new pipe organ in 2012. The Opera House, in the middle, has approximately 2,347 seats. Its interior features include walls covered in red velvet, a distinctive red and gold silk curtain, given by the Japanese government, and Lobmeyr crystal chandelier with matching pendants, a gift from the government of Austria . It is the major opera, ballet, and large-scale musical venue of the center, and closed during
1260-643: A new production of Ragtime in 2009. The Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays has provided critical support in the development of 135 new theatrical works. In 2011, a new production of Follies starring Bernadette Peters opened at the Eisenhower Theater, and transferred to Broadway that fall. Since 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors have been awarded annually by the center 's Board of Trustees . Each year, five artists or groups are honored for their lifetime contributions to American culture and
1350-577: A new wave of lower-class workers who flocked to the alleys to set up bootleg liquor stores. During this time, the German and the Irish immigrants that had been prevalent since the 1860s began to move out. In 1934, after conditions in the alley had deteriorated, the government created the Alley Dwelling Authority , a new government entity that specifically dealt with improving Washington D.C.’s alleys. The ADA
1440-851: Is DAR Constitution Hall . Foggy Bottom is also home to the original location of the United States Naval Observatory . The southern edge of Foggy Bottom is home to many federal government offices, including the State Department. The Main Interior Building (headquarters of the Department of the Interior ), the Bureau of Indian Affairs headquarters, and the Federal Reserve Board buildings all lie on or around Virginia Avenue . To
1530-677: Is a program unique to the National Symphony Orchestra and the center. The center sends the Orchestra to a different state each year for an intensive period of performances and teaching encompassing full orchestral, chamber, and solo concerts, master classes and other teaching sessions. The Orchestra has given these residencies in 20 states so far: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North and South Carolina, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Nevada, and Wyoming/Montana. The NSO recording of John Corigliano 's Of Rage and Remembrance won
1620-613: Is convertible to a forestage or additional seating space. The venue reopened in October 2008, following a 16-month renovation which altered the color scheme and seating arrangements. Other performance venues in the center include: The Kennedy Center offers one of the few open-air rooftop terraces in Washington, D.C.; it is free of charge to the public from 10:00 a.m. until midnight each day, except when closed for private events. The wide terrace provides views in all four directions overlooking
1710-858: Is known for its annual production of the ballet " The Nutcracker ". Over the years, it has been performed by various different companies throughout the United States. The Kansas City Ballet performed "The Nutcracker" at the Kennedy Center in November 2022. In recent years the Kennedy Center has expanded its public education programs nationwide. The 2005 opening of the Family Theater has helped achieve this. The 2008–2009 season programming for Performances for Young Audiences reached more than 100 performances for young people and their families and over 110 performances for school audiences. The season included four Kennedy Center-commissioned world premieres: The Trumpet of
1800-462: Is make the arts a critical component in every child's education. CETA, which stands for Changing Education Through the Arts, creates professional development opportunities for teachers and school administrators. Each year over 700 teachers participate in approximately 60 courses that focus on ways to integrate the arts into their teaching. The Kennedy Center's CETA program also partners with sixteen schools in
1890-745: Is often presented as distinct from that of the national government. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (officially known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts , and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center ) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It
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#17328450948191980-566: Is part of the center's Arab festival, Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World . Theater for Young Audiences on Tour toured with two nationally touring productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and Blues Journey . On June 8, 2016, it was announced that the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences-commissioned musical Elephant & Piggie's We are in a Play!, with book and lyrics by Mo Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, transferred to
2070-515: Is served by: George Washington University (GWU) is located in Foggy Bottom. Public schools in Foggy Bottom are part of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system. The neighborhood elementary and middle school located in Foggy Bottom is School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens . Residents are zoned for Cardozo Education Campus for high school. DCPS also operates School Without Walls ,
2160-596: Is the largest performance space in the Kennedy Center and is the home of the National Symphony Orchestra . A 1997 renovation brought a high-tech acoustical canopy, handicap- accessible locations on every level, and new seating sections (onstage boxes, chorister seats, and parterre seats). The Hadeland crystal chandeliers, given by the Norwegian government, were repositioned to provide a clearer view. Canadian organbuilder Casavant Frères constructed and installed
2250-481: Is thought to have received its name due to an atmospheric quirk of its low lying, marshy riverside location, which made it susceptible to concentrations of fog , and later, industrial smoke. The United States Department of State gained the metonym "Foggy Bottom" when it moved its headquarters to the Harry S Truman Building in 1947. Late into the 20th century, Foggy Bottom witnessed a drastic change in demographics. There
2340-710: The Art Tatum Piano Panorama, named after Dr. Taylor's mentor; the Louis Armstrong Legacy, highlighting vocalists; the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, the first festival by a major institution promoting outstanding female jazz artists; Beyond Category, featuring artists whose work transcends genre; the Platinum Series, with internationally acclaimed headliners; Jazz Ambassadors with
2430-578: The Ford Foundation , and approximately $ 500,000 from the Kennedy family . Other major donors included J. Willard Marriott , Marjorie Merriweather Post , John D. Rockefeller III , and Robert W. Woodruff , as well as many corporate donors. Foreign countries provided gifts to the Kennedy Center, including a gift of 3,700 tons of Carrara marble from Italy (worth $ 1.5 million) from the Italian government , which
2520-627: The Great Depression . Congress held hearings in 1935 on plans to establish a Cabinet level Department of Science, Art and Literature, and to build a monumental theater and arts building on Capitol Hill near the Supreme Court building. A 1938 congressional resolution called for construction of a "public building which shall be known as the National Cultural Center " near Judiciary Square , but nothing materialized. The idea for
2610-1052: The International Monetary Fund , the Office of Personnel Management , DAR Constitution Hall of the Daughters of the American Revolution , the American Pharmacists Association , the American Red Cross National Headquarters , the Pan American Health Organization , and the Organization of American States are all located in the neighborhood. In addition, the Mexican and Spanish embassies are located in Foggy Bottom, both on Pennsylvania Avenue . Foggy Bottom, along with
2700-784: The Rosslyn skyline in Arlington County, Virginia , to the west; the Potomac River and National Airport to the south; the Washington Harbor and the Watergate complex to the north; and the Lincoln Memorial , Department of State buildings, George Washington University and the Saudi embassy to the east. World premiere performances of Kennedy Center-commissioned works have been offered through
2790-521: The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in performances at the center and on extended tours. The center sponsors two annual dance residency programs for young people; Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell and the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Program, both now in their second decade. The Kennedy Center's Contemporary Dance series offers a wide range of artistic perspectives, from the foremost masters of
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2880-651: The United States Commission of Fine Arts , National Capital Planning Commission , and the National Park Service . The National Cultural Center was renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1964, following the assassination of President Kennedy . The National Cultural Center Board of Trustees, a group President Eisenhower established on January 29, 1959, led fundraising. Fundraising efforts were not successful, with only $ 13,425 raised in
2970-548: The United States Department of State , sending musicians on worldwide goodwill tours (1998–2004); the KC Jazz Club, a highly praised intimate setting; and Discovery Artists in the KC Jazz Club, highlighting up-and-coming talent. Kennedy Center and NPR annually collaborated on the beloved holiday broadcast 'NPR's Piano Jazz Christmas', until the retirement of host Marian McPartland, and hence the show, in 2011. Since 2003,
3060-588: The moons of Mars (Phobos and Deimos) were discovered from the old Naval Observatory in Foggy Bottom, which was located here until 1893. Foggy Bottom became the site of the George Washington University 's 42-acre (17 ha) main campus in 1912. Foggy Bottom was also the name of a line of beer by the Olde Heurich Brewing Company , which was founded by German immigrant Christian Heurich 's grandson, Gary Heurich. He tried to revive
3150-406: The 1870s and housed working class Irish, German and African Americans during the historic period of 1860-1915. The Foggy Bottom area was the site of one of the earliest European settlements in what is now Washington, D.C. , when German settler Jacob Funk (or Funck) subdivided 130 acres (0.53 km) near the meeting place of the Potomac River and Rock Creek in 1763. The settlement officially
3240-718: The 2003/2004 season for extensive renovations which provided a revised seating arrangement and redesigned entrances at the orchestra level. It is the home of the Washington National Opera and the annual Kennedy Center Honors . The Eisenhower Theater, on the north side, seats about 1,161 and is named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower , who signed the National Cultural Center Act into law on September 2, 1958. It primarily hosts plays and musicals, smaller-scale operas, ballet, and contemporary dance. The theater contains an orchestra pit for up to 35 musicians that
3330-492: The D.C. Office of Planning. Neighborhoods can be defined by the boundaries of wards, historic districts, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions , civic associations, and business improvement districts (BIDs); these boundaries will overlap. The eight wards each elect a member to the Council of the District of Columbia and are redistricted every ten years. As the nation's capital Washington, D.C.'s local neighborhood history and culture
3420-606: The Foggy Bottom neighborhood is preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Just south of the Watergate complex, on the Potomac River , lies the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , home of the National Symphony Orchestra and numerous other theatrical and musical exhibitions. On Virginia Avenue is the Simon Bolivar Memorial. George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium and Smith Center are frequently home to major concerts, as
3510-483: The Hall of Nations are both 250-foot-long (76 m), 63-foot-high (19 m) corridors. The building has drawn criticism about its location (far away from Washington Metro stops), and for its scale and form , although it has also drawn praise for its acoustics , and its terrace overlooking the Potomac River. In her book On Architecture , Ada Louise Huxtable called it " gemütlich Speer ". Cyril M. Harris designed
3600-639: The Kennedy Center Opera House September 10, 1971. The Eisenhower Theater was inaugurated October 18, 1971, with a performance of A Doll's House starring Claire Bloom . Architect Edward Durell Stone designed the Kennedy Center. Overall, the building is 100 feet (30 m) high, 630 feet (190 m) long, and 300 feet (91 m) wide. The Kennedy Center features a 630-foot-long (190 m), 63-foot-high (19 m) grand foyer, with 16 hand-blown Orrefors crystal chandeliers (a gift from Sweden) and red carpeting . The Hall of States and
3690-480: The Kennedy Center appointed Dr. Billy Taylor as Artistic Advisor for Jazz, and his first installation was his own radio show Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center . Featuring his trio and guest artists in performance and discussion, the series ran for seven seasons on NPR . Since Taylor's appointment in 1994, the center has initiated numerous performance programs to promote jazz on a national stage, featuring leading international artists and rising stars, including:
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3780-437: The Kennedy Center's auditoriums and their acoustics. A key consideration is that many aircraft fly along the Potomac River and over the Kennedy Center, as they take off and land at the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport . Helicopter traffic over the Kennedy Center is also fairly high. To keep out this noise, the Kennedy Center was designed as a box within a box, giving each auditorium an extra outer shell. After
3870-775: The Kennedy Center's founding chairman, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Since its establishment in 1969, KCACTF has reached more than 17.5 million theatergoing students and teachers nationwide. The Kennedy Center's CETA program's mission
3960-559: The Kennedy Center. Some of these include: The Kennedy Center regularly hosts special Inauguration Day events and galas during the start of each presidential term. During the United States Bicentennial , the Kennedy Center hosted numerous special events throughout 1976, including six commissioned plays. The center hosted free performances by groups from each state. In December 1976, Mikhail Baryshnikov 's version of The Nutcracker ballet played for two weeks. In 1977,
4050-929: The Millennium Stage, the Conservatory Project is a semi-annual event occurring in February and May that is designed to present the best young musical artists in classical, jazz, musical theater, and opera from leading undergraduate and graduate conservatories, colleges and universities. The Kennedy Center hosts residencies for artists to collaborate with the center's performing ensembles, programmers, and community initiatives. The center holds positions for Composer-in-Residence, Education Artist-in-Residence, and Culture Artist-in-Residence. The current artists-in-residence are The Roots , author Jacqueline Woodson , composer Carlos Simon , and pianist Robert Glasper . The center has co-produced more than 300 new works of theater over
4140-596: The Off-Broadway New Victory Theater in January 2017. Members of the National Symphony Orchestra will continue to present Teddy Bear Concerts throughout its seasons. During these concerts, children aged three to five bring their favorite stuffed animal to interactive musical programs featuring members of the NSO. Members of the NSO present NSO Ensemble Concerts, connecting music with various school subjects such as science and math, Kinderkonzerts, introducing kids to orchestral instruments and classical composers, as well as NSO Family Concerts. Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens,
4230-501: The Opera House hosted George Bernard Shaw 's Caesar and Cleopatra with Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Ashley . The American Ballet Theatre has also frequently performed at the Kennedy Center. The troupe's 2004 production of Swan Lake , choreographed by Kevin McKenzie , was taped there, shown on PBS in June 2005, and released on DVD shortly after. Productions of The Lion King and Trevor Nunn 's production of My Fair Lady (choreographed by Matthew Bourne ) were presented in
4320-404: The Presbyterian until the 1880s. The lot that was sold to the German Lutheran community was turned into the Concordia German Church . By the 19th century, Foggy Bottom became a community of laborers employed at the nearby breweries , glass plants, and city gas works. These industrial facilities are also cited as a possible reason for the neighborhood's name, the "fog" being the smoke given off by
4410-447: The Swan , a musical adapted by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman from the book by E.B. White with music by Jason Robert Brown ; Mermaids, Monsters, and the World Painted Purple , a new play by Marco Ramirez; Unleashed! The Secret Lives of White House Pets , a new play by Allyson Currin in collaboration with the White House Historical Association; and OMAN...O man! , a new dance production conceived and directed by Debbie Allen and
4500-484: The Washington DC Metro area to develop long-range plan for arts integration at their school. Two of these schools, Kensington Parkwood Elementary School in Kensington, MD and Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts in Falls Church, Virginia serve as Research and Development schools for CETA. Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell is a three-week summer ballet intensive for international pre-professional ballerinas ages 14–18. Suzanne Farrell , one of
4590-424: The West Station Works attracted laborers to the area, most of them unskilled. By 1860, the unskilled population in Foggy Bottom was at 42%, compared to 9% in 1850. The influx of people spurred development in the area, and 40 years after the works were completed, the area fit the description of a proper city. In 1948, the area of land occupied by the West Station Works was purchased by the Watergate Project. The plant
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#17328450948194680-418: The West Station Works, a plant owned and operated by the Washington Gas Light corporation, at the intersections of 26th and G St. NW. The construction began the development of the area now occupied by the Watergate complex and throughout broader Foggy Bottom. The location was chosen for its proximity to the Potomac River , which made it convenient to unload barges of coal for the plant. The daily operation of
4770-407: The artist four years to sculpt the two reliefs in plaster, creating 200 castings, and another two years for the foundry in Berlin to cast the pieces. In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution 's Save Outdoor Sculpture! program surveyed War or Peace and America and described them as being well maintained. Another sculpture Don Quixote by Aurelio Teno occupies a site near the northeast corner of
4860-442: The authority to legislation for approval. Individual legislators included, but not exclusively, Eleanor Roosevelt . Common reasons given for why an area was in need of renovation were: too many people in one home; too many African Americans in and around the area; or that the exterior paint had faded. After the ADA gained approval from legislation, it would then give the occupants of the houses anywhere from two to four months to vacate
4950-473: The bill's passage. Edward Durell Stone was selected as architect for the project in June 1959. He presented preliminary designs to the President's Music Committee in October 1959, along with estimated costs of $ 50 million, double the original estimates of $ 25–30 million. By November 1959, estimated costs had escalated to $ 61 million. Despite this, Stone's design was well received in editorials in The Washington Post , Washington Star , and quickly approved by
5040-404: The brewery buildings were razed to make way for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . Heurich Jr., and his two sisters donated a portion of the brewery land to the Kennedy Center in memory of their parents, and established the Christian Heurich Family as one of the Founders of the national cultural center. Although the firm was founded in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, the modern beer
5130-489: The building. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain gave the sculpture to the United States for its Bicentennial , June 3, 1976. The Kennedy Center has three main theaters: the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theater. The Concert Hall, located at the south end of the center, seats 2,465 including chorister seats and stage boxes, and has a seating arrangement similar to that used in many European halls such as Musikverein in Vienna. The Concert Hall
5220-405: The building. By July 1, 1944, all of the houses in Foggy Bottom had been evacuated and plans were set forward for renovation. This act sought to produce larger living spaces for individuals with better conditions so that the owners could charge more for rent. Higher rent prices were acceptable at the time because of a boom in hiring. Rents usually ranged anywhere from seventeen to thirty-seven dollars
5310-465: The center hosted a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, Jazz in Our Time, which bestowed the center's Living Jazz Legend Award to over 30 revered artists. During Dr. Taylor's tenure, the center has created recognized educational initiatives, including national jazz satellite distance-learning programs; adult lecture series; master classes and workshops with national artists and local metropolitan Washington, D.C. students; and Betty Carter 's Jazz Ahead—continuing
5400-526: The center's jazz programs have been regularly broadcast on NPR's JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater . Recent highlights, produced by the center, have included Great Vibes, A Salute to Lionel Hampton (1995); Billy Taylor's 80th Birthday Celebration (2002); Nancy Wilson , A Career Celebration (2003); Michel Legrand with Patti Austin , part of the center's Festival of France (2004); A Tribute to Shirley Horn (2004); James Moody 's 80th Birthday (2005); and Benny Golson at 80 (2009). In March 2007,
5490-416: The culture of the 22 Arab countries in the League of Arab States, titled Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World . In 2011, the Kennedy Center presented maximum INDIA , a three-week-long celebration of the arts and culture of the sub-continent. Since its establishment in September 1971, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has showcased jazz in solo, various ensembles, and big band settings. In 1994,
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#17328450948195580-458: The culture of the nation's capital. Opened in September 2022, Art and Ideals : President John F. Kennedy , is a permanent exhibit dedicated to President John F. Kennedy's relationship with art. The exhibit has four sections, each explaining the role art played in culture, democracy, social change, and the White House during Kennedy's presidency. The exhibit was designed by architectural firm KieranTimberlake , curator Ileen Gallahger, and
5670-421: The east lies the Eisenhower Executive Office Building , home to the Executive Office of the President of the United States and the Office of the Vice President of the United States . On the other side of the office is the White House , outside of the neighborhood. Foggy Bottom is also home to numerous international and American organizations. The World Bank buildings, the International Finance Corporation ,
5760-420: The first Executive Director of the National Cultural Center, overseeing numerous fundraising efforts and assisting with the architectural plan. The total cost of construction was $ 70 million. Congress allocated $ 43 million for construction costs, including $ 23 million as an outright grant and the other $ 20 million in bonds . Donations also comprised a significant portion of funding, including $ 5 million from
5850-497: The first three years. President John F. Kennedy was interested in bringing culture to the nation's capital, and provided leadership and support for the project. In 1961, President Kennedy asked Roger L. Stevens to help develop the National Cultural Center, and serve as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Stevens recruited First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as honorary chairman of the center, and former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower as co-chairman. In January 1961, Jarold A. Kieffer became
5940-399: The genre to the art form's newest and most exciting artists. In the 2008/2009 series, the Kennedy Center recognized Modern Masters of American Dance, bringing Martha Graham Dance Company , Merce Cunningham Dance Company , Limón Dance Company , Mark Morris Dance Group , Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater , Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Paul Taylor Dance Company . The Center
6030-464: The idea amid much controversy. A bill was finally passed in Congress in the summer of 1958 and on September 4, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Cultural Center Act which provided momentum for the project. This was the first time that the federal government helped finance a structure dedicated to the performing arts. The legislation required a portion of the costs, estimated at $ 10–25 million, to be raised within five years of
6120-416: The industries. Foggy Bottom attracted few settlers until the 1850s, when more industrial enterprises came into the area. Funk also set aside land in Hamburgh for a German-speaking congregation in 1768. Concordia German Evangelical Church, located at 1920 G Street NW was finally founded in 1833. Today the congregation is the United Church, and is the oldest religious community remaining in Foggy Bottom. In 1877
6210-419: The most revered ballerinas of the 20th century, has been hosting this Balanchine -inspired intensive at the Kennedy Center since 1993. During their three weeks in Washington, D.C., Farrell's students practice technique and choreography during twice daily classes, six days per week. Outside of the classroom, excursions, activities and performance events are planned for EBSF students to fully immerse themselves in
6300-424: The name "Foggy Bottom" is commonly used as a metonym . It is also home to federal agencies and international institutions, including the Federal Reserve , the World Bank , and the International Monetary Fund ; the core of the neighborhood is occupied by George Washington University . Within greater Foggy Bottom, there is a four block Historic District with modest row houses and alleys dating from as early as
6390-410: The original structure was marked for expansion, a competition in 2013 selected Steven Holl Architects to undertake the design. The extension, called The REACH, opened in 2019. The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Center features two tableaus by German sculptor Jürgen Weber ; created between 1965 and 1971, which were a gift to the Kennedy Center from the West German government. Near the north end of
6480-834: The past 43 years, including Tony-winning shows ranging from Annie in 1977 to A Few Good Men , How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying , The King and I , Titanic , and the American premiere of Les Misérables . The center also produced the Sondheim Celebration (six Stephen Sondheim musicals) in 2002, Tennessee Williams Explored (three of Tennessee Williams ' classic plays) in 2004, Mame starring Christine Baranski in 2006, Carnival! in 2007, August Wilson 's Pittsburgh Cycle (Wilson's complete ten-play cycle performed as fully staged readings) and Broadway: Three Generations both in 2008, and
6570-482: The past twelve years, over three million people have attended Millennium Stage performances. The Millennium Stage has presented more than 42,000 artists, which includes over 4,000 international artists from more than 70 countries; performers representing all 50 states; and 20,000 Washington-area ensembles and solo artists. The Charlie Byrd Trio and the Billy Taylor Trio were the first artists to delight audiences with
6660-465: The performing arts, including dance, music, theater, opera, film, and television. The Kennedy Center has awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor annually since 1998. Named after the 19th-century humorist Mark Twain , it is presented to individuals who have "had an impact on American society in ways similar to" Twain. Many local arts organizations present (or have presented) their work at
6750-538: The plaza is a display of nude figures in scenes representing war and peace , called War or Peace . The piece, 8 ft × 50 ft × 1.5 ft (2.44 m × 15.24 m × 0.46 m), depicts five scenes showing the symbolism of war and peace: a war scene, murder, family, and creativity. At the south end is America which represents Weber's image of America (8 × 50 × 1.5 ft.). Four scenes are depicted representing threats to liberty, technology, foreign aid and survival, and free speech. It took
6840-484: The rest of Washington D.C, was designed using the L'Enfant Plan , which created squares of housing with open space left in the middle. Foggy Bottom's alley life issue emerged during the 1860s when an influx of Irish and German immigrants attempted to move into Foggy Bottom. This influx was a result of the large number of industrial buildings that were located in Foggy Bottom. There were no immediate houses available for these new immigrants, so they were forced to move into
6930-462: The singer's legacy of identifying outstanding young talent. In 2015, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett performed there as part of their Cheek to Cheek Tour . The National Symphony Orchestra , the Kennedy Center's artistic affiliate since 1987, has commissioned dozens of new works, among them Stephen Albert 's RiverRun , which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music; Morton Gould 's Stringmusic , also
7020-480: The tradition of his family's Christian Heurich Brewing Company, which had ceased production in Foggy Bottom. Christian Heurich Brewing Company's most successful products bore such local names as Senate and Old Georgetown. During the 1950s, Heurich Brewing also sponsored the city's professional baseball team, the Washington Senators . Industry consolidation led the brewery to cease operations in 1956. In 1961–1962,
7110-465: The turn of the 20th century, the government began relegating more responsibilities and authority to the Health Department, which began demolishing the alleys because of the copious amounts of crime and disease. The living conditions of the inhabitants were quite abysmal, with half of the population sharing or having no toilet facilities Furthermore, crime was a major problem; a section of Foggy Bottom
7200-473: The uninhabited alleys that were located in the middle of the squares. The situation became worse after the Civil War when a wave of newly freed Black Americans moved to Washington and began populating the alleys. Construction of the alleys continued until 1892 because the government needed to reduce overcrowding in residential areas. For the next decade, the government largely left the alleys untouched. However, at
7290-595: Was September 5, 1971, with 2,200 members of the general public in attendance to see a premiere of Leonard Bernstein 's Mass in the Opera House, while the center's official opening took place September 8, 1971, with a formal gala and premiere performance of the Bernstein Mass . The Concert Hall was inaugurated September 9, 1971, with a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Doráti . Alberto Ginastera 's opera, Beatrix Cenci premiered at
7380-621: Was a racial transformation within the area, as a white revival emerged. Many different factors forced out the black population, including the Foggy Bottom Taxpayers Protective Association opposing federal intervention. The renovations enacted by the Alley Dwelling Authority rendered the former inhabitants displaced. Similarly, the West End witnessed the same changes. Another factor of the change in demographics
7470-556: Was authorized to demolish or redevelop any alley if it was deemed to be worth saving or not. The addition of the ADA and the arrival of the Department of State began to improve the living conditions in the alleys over time. The ADA was given the task of evaluating homes and streets to see if they met proper living conditions. Specific documentation would state the reasons why the area needed to be renovated. This documentation would then be sent from
7560-557: Was brewed in Utica , New York . Points of interest in Foggy Bottom include the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , Friendship Lodge Odd Fellows Hall, and the Watergate complex , site of the Watergate scandal 's burglaries that led to President Richard Nixon 's resignation . George Washington University has grown significantly over the past decades and now covers much of the neighborhood, which has many historic old homes and numerous mid-rise apartment buildings. The historic portion of
7650-401: Was demolished, and the Watergate complex was constructed on the same plot of land. Today, there is no physical remnant of the plant. It is a historical location today. It is bounded roughly by 17th Street NW to the east, the Potomac River and Rock Creek Parkway to the west, Constitution Avenue and the National Mall to the south, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW to the north. Foggy Bottom
7740-415: Was named Hamburgh , but colloquially was called Funkstown . In 1765, German settlers established the town of Hamburg on what would become the area between 24th and 18th NW Street. There are reportedly two more founders: Robert Peter and James Linigan. The three had control of the land until 1791 when the territories were given to the city of Washington and the United States government. In the town of Hamburg,
7830-410: Was named in 1964 as a memorial to assassinated President John F. Kennedy . Opened on September 8, 1971, the center hosts many different genres of performance art, such as theater, dance, orchestras, jazz , pop, psychedelic , and folk music . Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Act of Congress, which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds, the center represents
7920-437: Was nicknamed "Round Tops" because of a well-known gang that was active in the area. The following decades showed an improvement in the overall living conditions in the alleys of Foggy Bottom. The Health Department's effort to reduce crime and overcrowding largely succeeded until the 1920s, when prohibition began being enforced. Because breweries were a major source of income for the inhabitants of Foggy Bottom, prohibition created
8010-426: Was orchestrated by Democratic Senator Theodore G. Bilbo , who called for an "Alley Moving Day" forcing the black population out of the alleys. The neighborhood is predominately white and has a large number of off-campus university student residents that affect demographics on income, age and race. As of the 2010 United States Census , there are 14,642 residents, of whom 78.3% are white. The Foggy Bottom neighborhood
8100-569: Was used in the building's construction. President Lyndon B. Johnson dug the ceremonial first-shovel of earth at the groundbreaking for the Kennedy Center December 2, 1964. However, debate continued for another year over the Foggy Bottom site, with some advocating for another location on Pennsylvania Avenue . Excavation of the site got underway on December 11, 1965, and the site was cleared by January 1967. The first performance
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