The federal government arrived in Washington in 1800, and the city spent the decade trying to catch up. The Capitol and White House were still under construction, the streets were unpaved, and diplomats complained constantly about the state of the place. These posts explore early Washington, still very much a work in progress.
Gaithersburg started out as “Log Town” in 1765. Benjamin Gaither built a house on the land in 1802 after inheriting it from his father-in-law.
Before the towers and the Metro, Ballston was a log tavern at a dirt crossroads, run by a family George Washington called cousins.
Plan of part of the city of Washington : on which is shewn the squares, lots, &c., divided between William Prout Esq’r and the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings, agreeably to the deed of trust / laid down from a scale of 200 feet pr. inch by N. King, 1800.
Read about John Adams’ proudest act: nominating John Marshall to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Learn more about the historic letter and its significance in this blog post from Ghosts of DC.
Two historical maps of Georgetown, including a street map and a detailed plat of the neighborhood.
Why is Washington, DC the capital? John Adams rode from Philadelphia to DC over an entire week. Read the story of his full journey.
Who was the first mayor of Washington? It wasn’t Walter Washington or Marion Barry. Have you hear of Robert Brent? He was Thomas Jefferson’s friend.
Arlington County is named for a plantation. The plantation was named for a mansion. The mansion was named for an English village.
If you’re a serious D.C. history nerd, you’ll find this just as fascinating as I do. It was produced by UMBC’s Imaging Research Center (IRC) about a year ago. The voiceover is a little dry, but follow along and watch the whole thing. It’s very interesting.
Here’s a cool screenshot of the final scene, imagining what the Capitol looked like in 1814.
