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, which 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 in 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.