Columbus Circle

Columbus Circle, also known as Union Station Plaza, is a prominent traffic circle in northeast Washington, D.C. It sits directly in front of historic Union Station and borders the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Because of the station entrances, the plaza forms an arc rather than a complete circle. The Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building stands to the east of the plaza, while the National Postal Museum is on its western side. The area was originally part of a poor Irish neighborhood called Swampoodle, which was demolished when Union Station opened in 1907. The plaza underwent a comprehensive renovation between 2011 and 2013, and further work on the fountains and green spaces is planned from late 2025 to mid-2026.

At the center of the circle stands the Columbus Fountain, which was unveiled in 1912 and gave the plaza its present name. The monument was designed by architect Daniel Burnham and sculpted by Lorado Taft. It is flanked by three tall flagpoles and surrounded by two smaller fountains and stone balustrades that you can reach by stairs. Around the circle, the flags of all fifty U.S. states fly in the order in which they joined the Union, joined by the flags of the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. These flagpoles line the south side of the street and create a colorful display.

Today, Columbus Circle is primarily a pedestrian area with wide walkways and several crosswalks. Vehicles can drive around the circle on Massachusetts Avenue, but parking and stopping are prohibited. On the station side, there are dedicated drive-ups for passenger drop-off and pickup. The streetcar line that once looped around the plaza now has its stop on the opposite side of the station. For cyclists, there are bike racks in front of Union Station as well as a Capital Bikeshare station, which underscores the plaza's connection to the city's transportation network.