Spanish Steps Preservation Project
In 1911, the Washington, D.C. Office of Buildings and Grounds determined that the rise of 22nd Street between S Street and Decatur Place was too steep for carriages and early vehicles to climb. City planners realized that without a roadway a pedestrian connector was needed to descend from S Street to Decatur Place, and property along the right-of-way was deeded to the city for the construction of steps and an adjacent park, formally named Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain, but known today as the Spanish Steps. The Foundation supports efforts to preserve the unique character of the Steps and the adjacent Decatur Terrace.