The Downing Urn: A Hidden Gem on D.C's National Mall

Nestled in the Enid A. Haupt Garden of the Smithsonian Institution, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, lies an unusual garden ornament known as the Downing Urn. This eccentric vase honors Andrew Jackson Downing, a remarkable figure credited as a founder of American landscape architecture. The Downing Urn, crafted by Calvert Vaux and Robert Eberhard Launitz, holds a fascinating link to the National Mall's rich history. In 1856, it made its debut on the National Mall during Downing's lifetime, reflecting his landscape plan for the area, though the McMillan Plan eventually took charge. The urn found its permanent home in the Enid A. Haupt Garden in 1989, boasting an engraving on its base reading 'Andrew Jackson Downing 1815-1852' on the south face.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons