Independence Avenue (Washington, D.C.)

Independence Avenue

Street sign at 1900 Independence Avenue SW
Former name(s)	B Street
Maintained by	DDOT
Location	Washington, D.C., US
West end	Ohio Drive SW
Major junctions	Maine Avenue SW 14th Street SW Washington Avenue SW Pennsylvania Avenue SE Massachusetts Avenue SE
East end	East Capitol Street
Construction
Commissioned	1791
Completion	1941

Independence Avenue is a major east-west street in the southwest and southeast quadrants of the city of Washington, D.C., in the United States, running just south of the United States Capitol. Originally named South B Street, Independence Avenue SW was constructed between 1791 and 1823. Independence Avenue SE was constructed in pieces as residential development occurred east of the United States Capitol and east of the Anacostia River. Independence Avenue SW received its current name after Congress renamed the street in legislation approved on April 13, 1934. Independence Avenue SW originally had its western terminus at 14th Street SW, but was extended west to Ohio Drive SW between 1941 and 1942. The government of the District of Columbia renamed the portion of the road in the southeast quadrant of the city (west of the Anacostia River) in 1950.