National Coalition to Save Our Mall

National Coalition to Save Our Mall
Name	National Coalition to Save Our Mall
Formation	1980s
Type	Nonprofit advocacy coalition
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

National Coalition to Save Our Mall

The National Coalition to Save Our Mall was an American preservationist alliance formed to oppose large-scale development projects on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It brought together preservationists, historians, architects, civic activists and institutions to contest proposals affecting the National Mall, coordinating campaigns that intersected with debates involving the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and members of the United States Congress. The coalition's activities connected with high-profile personalities and organizations including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Claiborne Pell, Secretary of the Interior, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and civic groups in the District of Columbia.

Background and Origins

The coalition emerged amid contested proposals during the late 20th century to add museums, memorials, and vehicular circulation changes to the Mall area, following public debates sparked by plans tied to the National Air and Space Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the expansion of the Smithsonian Institution Building. Founders included preservation activists with ties to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, staff from the National Park Service, scholars affiliated with Georgetown University and George Washington University, and members of historical societies such as the American Historical Association and the Historic American Buildings Survey. Early mobilization was informed by precedents like the reactions to the Jefferson Memorial placement and the controversies surrounding the Vietnam Veterans Memorial design process.

Mission and Objectives

The coalition articulated objectives to protect sightlines, green space, and the L'Enfant Plan-era axial composition of the Mall, advocating adherence to design principles endorsed by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. Its mission statements cited stewardship of cultural landscapes recognized alongside landmarks such as the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II Memorial. The group prioritized policy tools including review under the National Historic Preservation Act, consultations invoking the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and engagement with members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Key Campaigns and Activities

The coalition led public comment drives, legal challenges, and media outreach about specific projects tied to institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and municipal initiatives by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. High-profile campaigns addressed proposals near the Washington Monument, expansions by the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of Natural History, and proposals affecting vistas toward the Capitol Hill complex. Activities included organizing testimony before the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, staging demonstrations near the National Archives Building, coordinating with the American Institute of Architects chapters, and filing administrative appeals invoking the National Environmental Policy Act. The coalition worked with newspapers such as the The Washington Post and broadcasters including National Public Radio to shape public debate.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprised individuals and organizations: local civic associations from Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), preservation NGOs like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Daughters of the American Revolution, scholarly bodies including the American Institute for Conservation and university departments from Georgetown University and Columbia University. Governance structures featured an executive board with representatives from Smithsonian Institution-adjacent citizen groups, legal committees collaborating with law firms experienced in historic preservation litigation, and coalitions with environmental organizations such as The Wilderness Society and Sierra Club chapters in the Mid-Atlantic. Funding came from membership dues, foundation grants from entities like the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, and small donations coordinated through partner institutions.

Political Influence and Advocacy

Through sustained advocacy, the coalition shaped legislative and administrative outcomes by engaging staff of prominent members of Congress including supporters on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources. It influenced federal review processes administered by the National Park Service and prompted hearings in the United States Senate, leveraging endorsements from cultural figures and institutions such as the Library of Congress, the National Gallery of Art, and prominent architects associated with the American Institute of Architects. Its lobbying intersected with executive branch decision-making under multiple administrations and informed guidance by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on Mall stewardship.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics accused the coalition of obstructing modernization and limiting access improvements advocated by agencies like the National Park Service and certain Smithsonian Institution officials. Opponents included developers, some representatives of cultural institutions, and proponents of enhanced visitor amenities who mobilized allies in the District of Columbia Council. Debates became contentious around projects tied to major commemorations, provoking disputes involving figures from the National Capital Planning Commission and legal contests referencing statutes such as the National Historic Preservation Act. Commentators in outlets like The Washington Times and policy analysts from think tanks including the Brookings Institution debated the coalition's positions.

Legacy and Impact on Mall Preservation

The coalition's interventions contributed to preserved sightlines, deferred or altered proposals, and strengthened procedural protections for the Mall and adjacent federal parks, influencing subsequent plans for sites like the World War II Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Its legacy is visible in planning documents produced by the National Park Service, guidance from the National Capital Planning Commission, and continued engagement by successor organizations within the preservation community, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local historic preservation offices in the District of Columbia.

Category:Historic preservation organizations of the United States Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.