The southern section extends from South Washington Street at the southern end of Old Town Alexandria past Fort Hunt to Mount Vernon. The southern section is a limited-access highway, but with at-grade intersections. At Mount Vernon, the parkway ends at a traffic circle, where it joins Virginia State Highway 235.
Clara Barton Parkway
The Clara Barton Parkway is administratively part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. In fact, it was signed as such until 1989, when it was renamed to overcome motorist confusion.
The parkways on the two sides of the river were originally supposed to be joined by a bridge at the Great Falls of the Potomac River. However, opposition from preservationists led to the cancellation of that bridge. Instead, traffic between the two parkways uses the American Legion Bridge. The Virginia side of the Potomac river at Great Falls is managed by the Superintendent of the parkway as a national park site, known as Great Falls Park. At Great Falls Park, remains of the first canal with lifting locks in the United States, commenced in 1786, can be found. The canal project was one of the world's first engineering works in which blasting powder was utilized to remove rocks and overburden. A total of 5 locks were constructed, and restoration and preservation of these locks is ongoing.
Administrative history
Authorized May 29, 1930; transferred from Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital August 10, 1933. On November 28, 1989, the road in Maryland was renamed the Clara Barton Parkway. The Parkway also administers other National Park Service features and areas:
