Although New York City
and Philadelphia each served briefly as the capital of the
United States, in 1790, Congress chose the District of Columbia
as the permanent seat of government. George Washington helped
select the site for the city. Situated on the Potomac River,
Washington, D.C., was originally carved out of land transferred
from Maryland and Virginia (Virginia's portion south of the
river was returned to that state in 1846).
French-born American
engineer, architect, and urban designer Pierre-Charles L'Enfant
designed the city's basic plan, which features wide avenues
radiating from the Capitol building through a grid of streets
with numerous circles and parks. The name District of Columbia
honors Christopher Columbus, and the city's better-known name of
Washington, honors the first president. Congress first met in
Washington in 1800, although construction of the first phase of
the Capitol was not completed until 1826. Today, millions come
to Washington, D.C. each year to see the Capitol, the White
House, the Library of Congress, and the city's many museums and
monuments. The flower is the American beauty rose.
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