What is it?

August 23, 2011 8:19 PM

At the corner of 2nd Street NW and H Street NW in Washington, DC, there is a large, rectangular tower painted to look as though it has a window through it with a view of the Capitol. What is it, and why is it there?

Google seems to indicate that the structure has an address of 890 2nd Street NW. It has no windows and only one door. There's an office building about 10 yards away, but it is otherwise surrounded by vacant lots. It has a painting on it made to look like you can see the Capitol through the building, but the building is oriented such that the painting isn't actually facing the Capitol. So, what's going on here?

posted by decathecting to grab bag (3 answers total)

It's an air shaft for I-395. (via)
posted by gubo at 8:34 PM on August 23, 2011

Here's a 2004 Washington Post article that talks about the mural.
posted by gubo at 8:59 PM on August 23, 2011

Thanks!
posted by decathecting at 9:34 AM on August 24, 2011