What is the National Mall often referred to as?

The National Mall is often referred to as “America’s front yard.” Designed by Pierre L’Enfant, who was tapped by George Washington in 1791 to design a public space worthy of the new country, the National Mall struggled through much of the 19th century to live up to L’Enfant’s vision of a central gathering place. Only in the 20th century—when it was home to such events as the 1939 Marian Anderson concert, the March on Washington, the AIDS quilt, and the Million Man March—did the Mall truly live up to its moniker.