How long has dc been around

But residents can vote in federal elections. The city was nearly destroyed during the War of against Great Britain. Today Washington, D. Capitol, where the Senate and the House of Representatives meet; the White House, where the president lives and works; and the Supreme Court Building, where many important court rulings are made.

You can probably guess that the "Washington" part of Washington, D. But what about the initials? They stand for District of Columbia, named after Christopher Columbus. Washington, D. The Anacostia River runs through its east side.

You can also check out Kingman Island, a man-made island in the Anacostia River, which is the site of a popular bluegrass festival each summer. About three square miles, the park has over 32 miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, and is home to deer, coyotes , raccoons , and foxes. Look for mammals such as Virginia opossums, groundhogs , brown bats, and flying squirrels.

You might even spot the U. Other birds include cardinals, great blue herons, and the official bird, the wood thrush. Granted statehood in , Washington was named in honor of George Washington; it is the only U. The official home for the U. George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and served two terms as the first U.

The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in colonial Virginia. As a young In , D. Before Washington, D. The March on Washington was a massive protest march that occurred in August , when some , people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. Also known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the event aimed to draw attention to continuing Martha Washington was an American first lady —97 and the wife of George Washington, first president of the United States and commander in chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution.

She set many of the standards and customs for the proper When the War of first broke out, the fighting centered on the border between the United States and Canada, then a British colony. Before long, however, other fronts had opened up, including the Chesapeake Bay, where a British squadron led by Rear Admiral George Cockburn This is a great family-friendly experience that is sure to entertain the little ones.

The Metrorail system is an inexpensive method and includes 86 stations and spans about miles. There are metro stations located around the city marked by a brown pillar with the letter M. There are 5 different routes, the red, blue, yellow, orange and green, that connect to each other at various points. Metrobus In addition to the Metrorail, Washington DC also has numerous bus routes with 1, buses traveling on them to help you get around easily.

Red, white and blue signs throughout the city identify bus stations and using the SmarTrip Card makes fares inexpensive. The buses travel different routes, which include the major areas and arteries of the city, as well as Maryland and Virginia. Rental Vehicle Car rentals are available throughout the city and at the airport. Close X. Skip to content. Washington DC. Augustine San Diego Savannah Nashville. Boston - submenu Key West - submenu St. Augustine - submenu San Diego - submenu Savannah - submenu Nashville - submenu.