We posted some great old alternative designs for the Lincoln Memorial a while back and they were quite popular. Well, we dug up one for the Washington Monument which you'll surely enjoy. This one is dated...
![Plan of the city intended for the permanent seat of the government of t[he] United States : projected agreeable to the direction of the President of the United States, in pursuance of an act of Congress, passed on the sixteenth day of July, MDCCXC, "establishing the permanent seat on the bank of the Potowmac"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ghostsofdc/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/27124249/ct001333.jpg)
Here is a terrific old map of the plan for the federal city. Plan of the city intended for the permanent seat of the government of t[he] United States : projected agreeable to...
This is a really old map of the Carroll family plot in Washington in 1793. Source: Library of Congress...
GoDCers Love Maps / 03.03.2014
1795 Map of the Territory of Columbia
Here's a map that we haven't come across before. This shows the Territory of Columbia and the City of Washington surrounded by Maryland in 1795. Click on it for a much larger version. ...
This is a really cool old sketch of the original land owners for the city of Washington. Make sure you read this old post about the original land owners. The map was done in 1874 and...
Why Is It Named...? / 17.10.2013
Why Is It Named Centreville?
Source: Documentarist This is an interesting, though somewhat obvious origin of a town's name: Centreville. The town of Centreville (it was originally Centerville) was established in 1792, near the intersection...
Faces & Places of Yesterday, GoDCers Love Maps / 20.08.2013
Early Map of Washington and the Patawmack
That's right, the Patawmack River, not the Potomac. Check out this cool map of what would become the City of Washington. It was done around 1893, near the city's centennial. early map of...
Check this out. What a fascinating old letter we found in the National Archives. This was penned by President John Adams on July 2nd, 1798, nominating George Washington of Mount Vernon to Lieutenant General and Commander...
The Best Of, Why Is It Named...? / 24.07.2013
Why Is Washington, D.C. Called the District of Columbia?
Wondered why it's called the District of Columbia? What is the District of Columbia? Learn Washington DC's full form and what the DC stands for....
Another amazing map, courtesy of David Rumsey. The map is based on the first official plan of the city, published by Andrew Ellicott in 1792. Source: David...
Faces & Places of Yesterday / 01.05.2013
1790s Views of Washington
These are some great prints of Washington as it looked in the mid-1790s. They were done by George Isham Parkyns and they show a slightly different and more pastoral landscape. View of the suburbs...
Why Is It Named...? / 01.02.2013
Why Is It Named Meridian Hill?
This is a great bit of Washington trivia for everyone to commit to memory ...
The Best Of, Three Things... / 30.01.2013
Why Is There No J Street?
This will be a nice twist on our "Three Things...
Historical Events, Notable People & Places / 02.03.2012
Washington is Composed of Land from 19 Original Owners
The hundred square mile plot selected as the new seat of government was not unclaimed land. There were farms, estates and towns that were being swallowed up by United States government. But, I should add, that this wasn't a case of eminent domain.
Nineteen original landowners were negotiated with, directly by George Washington himself at the end of March, 1791. He met with them during the day and in the evening, closed the deal with them at Suter's Tavern in Georgetown.
By the way, Suter's -- formally known as the Fountain Inn -- was the main gathering place in Georgetown at the time and is purported to have been at what is presently 31st and K St. NW.
After acquiring all the land for the new federal district, Washington wrote a letter to fellow Founding Father and Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson.