Oral Histories

How the city is laid out and the freedom with which people can walk about and get close to the institutions here is truly a statement on our democracy.

The public’s contribution is vital. Even when those visions may be different than what the Commission ultimately may decide, it’s important to … listen and learn.

While we want to glorify our history and place monuments … that were attractive to the nation, we couldn't do things that undermined the quality of life in neighborhoods

NCPC and GSA gave me the chance to have this tremendous insight into how Washington is laid out, who is where, [and] what trends exist…

Even the most outspoken detractors came to me and … said, ‘I didn’t understand the power of this [Vietnam Veterans Memorial]. I didn’t understand that it was going to be reflective, that I would see myself reflected in the names of the fallen.

I hope that ... people cannot just see the past here, but they can see what the future could be in their communities.

Federal land cannot simply stand alone without being integrated into the people and the areas that are around it.

Our primary job was to figure out how to manage this giant balancing act between local and federal interests, between security, public access, and public spaces that should inspire people ... but that are also functional and accessible … to all...