Posted coordinates indicate the first water filtration system for Washington DC. DO NOT go to the posted coordinates. Depending on the day/time, there might be muggle traffic.
This is an easy puzzle, so don't worry. Read the description and answer the questions below.
It was built in 1905 as a 25 acre portion of the McMillan Reservoir. Its "slow sand filter" design was considered an engineering marvel, and purified the water without chemicals.
Below ground were 20 catacomb-like cells, each of which covered a full acre, where sand was used to filter water from the Potomac River. You can see the entrances to the cells, if you look closely.
The site was not just a filtration plant. It was part of the "McMillan Plan", a grand vision for Washington named for the chairman of the Senate Parks Commission. The site's was also a public park until the grounds were closed in 1942, presumably to ward off attack on DC's water supply by foreign enemies.
In 1985, a new chemical filtration system was completed and the sand filtration site was decommissioned. The following year, the DC government paid $9.3 million to the federal government for the site, and still owns it today. This opened the door to the possibility of development, BUT the District of Columbia was also required to evaluate the property for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
In 1989, two years after the District purchased the site, came the first development proposal, for a K-Mart and a church. However, local residents had a different vision for how the space should be used. Though the District has solicited proposals several times over the years, the site has proven difficult to tackle.
In 2007 the DC government selected a developer for the site. However construction has still not begun, due to continued controversy over use of a non-competitive procurement process, how much park will remain, density of development, building heights, traffic impacts etc.
In 2016, courts sided with community activists and rejected the DC Zoning Commission's approval of a $720 million project to transform the site into retail, office and residential space. The lawsuit outcome was decided one day AFTER the groundbreaking ceremony.
In September 2021, the DC Court of Appeals cleared the way for development to begin. The area is now being developed into medical offices (northernmost area), housing and retail (middle) and a park/recreation center (south). The park and pool opened on June 15, 2024!
The cache is located at N 38° 55.ABC W 077° 00.DEF
Answer the following questions for the final coordinates:
A - McMillan is named after...
- a Senator - 4
- a baseball player - 9
- a popular breakfast sandwich - 3
B - Until 1942, site also served as a...
- Baseball field - 7
- Jail - 1
- Public Park - 9
C - The filtration site was in operation until...
- 1941 - 4
- 1985 - 9
- 1905 - 8
D - The sand filtration site is listed in the...
- Guiness Book of World Records - 9
- National Register of Historic Places - 7
- List of best vacation spots, 1964 - 1
E - Construction on the site was held up for decades because of...
- Aliens - 6
- Community activism - 3
- Corporate interests - 4
F - Expected development on the south end of the lot will include...
- An 8 acre park including a pool - 1
- A new bowling alley - 8
- Monster truck rally site - 0
More info for the curious:
Great video showing the interior of the cells (it's currently not possible to go there): https://vimeo.com/111638481
Friends of McMillan Park: http://friendsofmcmillan.org/
Note on Parking: If you're in a car, look for parking along 1st Street. Parking is now restricted during the day, so you might want to park on Channing or Bryant. This will give you the opportunity to grab Catlandia as well!