Washington from the Ground Up - Softcover

James H. S. McGregor is Emeritus Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Georgia.

For visitors to the White House, the Congress, the Senate, the Library of Congress, the National Mall and scores of other federal buildings, institutions and attractions, this guide brings to life the architecture of the capital, placing each piece in a historical perspective that is national in scope. The writing, crisp and direct, is enlivened with anecdotes about our rulers and their often unruly subjects who made history in these same buildings. (J. D. Brown and Margaret Backenheimer Chicago Tribune 2008-02-03)

McGregor's story of our nation's capitol begins with George Washington's selection of the site in 1790 and then proceeds to chronicle the history of the federal city's construction. He discusses the competition to design the executive mansion, what he calls the burgeoning bureaucracy, and the creation of 130 acres for the president's grounds; the city's public walks and the development of its prestigious neighborhoods are also part of his purview...Also brought into the profile are the city's many libraries, churches, monuments, and museums; McGregor tells how they relate to the capitol's history. A solid, thoroughly researched book. (George Cohen Booklist 2007-09-15)

James McGregor’s Washington from the Ground Up is a fine undertaking, a concise account of the city that integrates geography, history, and design. “From the ground up,” the author discusses Washington’s terrain and topography as they relate to its urban development ... The chapter on Pierre L’Enfant and early Washington is especially good, and the chapter on the local and social history of Washington is outstanding. This is a book by a man who truly knows and loves Washington. (Richard Striner Weekly Standard 2008-06-16)