Pan American Union

The Joint Committee on Landmarks has designated the Pan American Union a Category II Landmark of importance which contributes significantly to the cultural heritage and visual beauty of the District of Columbia, The Pan American Union is the Secretariat of the Organization of the American States, which is the world's oldest international association uniting the 21 republics of the Western Hemisphere in a "community of nations" dedicated to "the achievement of peace, security, and prosperity for all Americans. The architecture of the building, a blending of South American motifs and the classical style in vogue in the U.S., was intended to be symbolic of a common understanding of the American Republics. This distinguished building should be preserved.

When the District of Columbia was formed in 1790, the property on which the Pan American Union stands was owned by David Burnes, a Scotch farmer whose plantation encompassed much of today's downtown Washington. Although Burnes became a wealthy man after the sale of some of his lands to the government, he continued to live in a rude cottage on the present Pan American grounds, he continued to live in a rude cottage on the present Pan American grounds. Burnes' daughter Marchia married General John P. Van Ness. The Van Ness Mansion designed by Benjamin Latrobe and erected on the property in 1816, was long regarded as one of the finest homes in the country. Burnes' cottage was blown down in a windstorm in 1894. The Van Ness Mansion was demolished in 1907 to make way for the Pan American Union. Only the Van Ness stables are still standing.

The history of attempts to establish an international American Union goes back to the days of Simon Bolivar, who liberate the American continent from the Spaniards and is a father of Pan-Americanism. Under the impetus of U. S. Secretary of State, James G. Blaine, the first meeting of the International Bureau of American Republics was held in Washington in 1889-90. William E. Curtis, the first director of the organization, was appointed in 1890. The second conference was held in Mexico City in 1901. The third conference convened in Rio de Janeiro in 1906. At the sixth conference held in Buenos Aires in 1910, the association's name was changed to the Pan American Union. The purpose of the Pan American Union as originally founded was to encourage cultural, commercial, and financial ties among its members and to promote friendly intercourse and peace.

In 1903 the member nations approved a plan to erect a building in Washington. Andrew Carnegie gave $750,000 of the $1,000,000 needed to construct the building. The various republics contributed the remaining amount. The architects of the building. Albert Kelsey and Paul P. Cret of Philadelphia were selected by a jury after a national competition in which 75 prominent architects and builders submitted designs. The cornerstone was laid on May 11, 1908. President Taft and the entire Washington Diplomatic Corps attended the dedication ceremony on April 26, 1910. Andrew Carnegie donated another $100,000 for the development of the annex and gardens which were completed in 1912. From the beginning, the Pan American Union has served as a focal point for cultural activity in Washington, with frequent concerts and art exhibits, as well as diplomatic receptions.

Over the years, the duties of the Union were gradually expanded by the member nations. In 1948 the 9th International Conference of American States at Bogota, Columbia, reorganized the inter-American system into the Organization of American States with the Pan American Union as its permanent Secretariat. As such, the Pan American Union now works under the direction of the Secretary-General "to promote economic, social, juridical, and cultural relations among all the member states." It also renders such technical and informational services to private groups and individuals as will further the aims of the OAS.