About Washington DC

Washington DC is the capital of the United States of America. Settled as a port town for tobacco trade in 1751, Washington flourished into a city after the Revolutionary War and became America's capital in 1800. The city is named after the nation's first president and military general, George Washington. The District of Columbia, which is a government protectorate, is named after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. During the Civil War, Washington DC served as a military base for the Union army.

During Washington's over 200 years as the nation's capital, major political buildings, museums, and landmarks have been established. The influence of Roman and Greek architecture is apparent in many of these structures. The original Capitol Building, completed in 1826, was the first major indication of Washington DC's status and has been rebuilt, restored, and extended over the years. Since then, the White House, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Smithsonian Institution have been added, creating the famous capital city Americans know so well.

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