Washington D.C. information
Washington, DC, is famous not only for being the capital of the world's most powerful democracy, but also for its stately monuments, world-class art museums, and eclectic, culture-rich neighborhoods. Located on the banks of the Potomac River, the city is home to over two hundred embassies. Thousands of immigrants from all corners of the globe provide Washington with a very diverse population, lending the city an interUS flavor.
Washington, DC, is one of the few planned cities in the United States, designed to rival the metropolitan centers of Europe with its grand boulevards, lush parks, and majestic architecture. It was in 1790 that the city's namesake, George Washington, decided to situate the US capital in neutral territory between Virginia and Maryland so that no other state in the union could lay claim to the capital. To accomplish this task, Washington convinced many private landowners to give up sections of their farms, much of which was swampland, in order to create the District of Columbia.
Washington then employed French engineer and architect Pierre L'Enfant to help plan the layout of the city. L'Enfant divided the city into quadrants, with the Capitol building as the hub. From there, streets named for the thirteen original colonies stretched out to the city's developing neighborhoods. Ordinances stating that no building in Washington be taller than the Capitol dome are still in effect today, providing picturesque vistas from all corners of the city.
A visit to Washington, DC, is a history lesson peppered with fabulous art, shopping, entertainment, and much more. Stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and recall Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. Spend time in one of Washington's famous museums and bear witness to the hardened brushstrokes of Leonardo da Vinci, El Greco, Claude Monet, and Salvador Dali; the glow of the Hope Diamond; or the simple construction of the first airplane flown by Orville and Wilbur Wright. Stroll through the cobblestone side streets of posh and trendy Georgetown to the university, which existed even before Washington became the capital. Treasures abound in every neighborhood in the District, so don't think that you can see everything in one trip. Lifelong residents have yet to see it all.
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