McPherson Square

Named for Union general James McPherson, whose equestrian statue rises at its heart, this rectangular square lies a few blocks north of the White House amid government buildings. It was part of the original city plan and later landscaped with lawns, walkways and shade trees. The square is a familiar backdrop to federal working life, drawing office crowds at lunch and serving as an assembly point during marches. Its statue was cast from cannon captured during the Atlanta campaign, tying the tranquil green to the war it commemorates.