The E Street Complex, also known as the "Navy Hill Complex," the "Potomac Hill Complex," the "Observatory Hill Complex," and the "Pickle Factory," is the

historic site A historic site or heritage site is an official location where pieces of political, military, cultural, or social history have been preserved due to their cultural heritage value. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have been re ...

of the primary headquarters facility of the

Office of Strategic Services The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the first intelligence agency of the United States, formed during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines ...

, and the first headquarters building of the

Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...

. It is geographically located near 23rd Street and E Street in Washington, D.C. This complex was unassuming, appearing to be a mix of normal government offices and apartment buildings to nearby residents and office workers. The

OSS Society Formerly known as the Veterans of the OSS, the OSS Society is the association of veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the famed intelligence agency. The Veterans of the OSS was founded in 1947 by ...

and

State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs o ...

engaged in efforts with the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...

to add the E Street Complex to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

. On December 14, 2016, the effort was successful. {{Cite news , last=Hendrix , first=Steve , date=2023-05-24 , title=Birthplace of the CIA and U.S. spycraft just made the National Register of Historic Places , url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/birthplace-of-the-cia-and-american-spycraft-just-made-the-national-register-of-historic-places/2017/01/26/d0346264-e3f9-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html , access-date=2024-06-26 , work=Washington Post , language=en-US , issn=0190-8286 *Note: The E Street Complex is not to be confused with the

Old Naval Observatory The Old Naval Observatory is a historic site at 23rd and E Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is where the United States Naval Observatory was located from 1844 to 1893, when it moved to its present grounds. The original observatory build ...

. The E Street Complex occupied a portion of the original area of the Old Naval Observatory grounds, with a courtyard at its center. E Street Complex Sign with CIA Seal - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency

E Street Complex Sign with CIA Seal - Flickr - The Central Intelligence Agency

References

Central Intelligence Agency Office of Strategic Services National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.