Washington D.C. W A S H I N G T O N D. C. Coodinates: 38°53′42.4″N 77°02′12.0″W - founded on July 16, 1790. Current Mayor: Adrian Fenty (D) - it is the capital of the United States of America

- formally known as the District of Columbia

- hosts 174 embassies as well as several headquarters of the World Bank, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, and the Pan American Health Organization

- governed by a mayor and a 13 – member council H I S T O R Y

When the first European first came in the 17th century, present - day was once inhabited by Algonquian – speaking people known as the Nacotchtank. However, by the 18th century most of the Native American people had relocated from the area.

On January 23, 1788, former US President illustrated the need for a federal district on his essay the “Federalist No. 43”. He stated that the national capital needed to be distinct from the other states in order to provide for its own maintenance and safety.

Therefore, the establishment of a federal capital was provided in the United States Constitution which permits a district top become the seat off the government of the United States.

On July 16, 1790, the provided for a new permanent capital to be located on the North bank of the and to the east of Georgetown. The choice of Washington’s site resulted from a compromise between Alexander and northern states.

George Washington chose the site and appointed three commissioners to help prepare for the arrival of a new government in 1800.

On September 9, 1791, the capital city was named in honour of George Washington and the district named the territory of Columbia. Congress held its first session in Washington on November 17, 1800.

Under the Organic Act of 1801, the District of Columbia was officially organized and placed the entire territory (which includes Georgetown, Washington and Alexandria) under the control of the Congress. G E O G R A P H Y

Geographical Area:

68.3 square miles (176.9 km2) 61.4 square miles (159.0 km2) – Land 6.9 square miles (17.9km2) – Water

Neighboring States:

Virginia (southwest side) Maryland (southeast, northeast and northwest sides)

Topography:

Washington’s topography includes mountainous regions very similar to that of Maryland.

It ranges from sandy dunes to marshlands to mountains. The District of Columbia has three major natural flowing bodies of water: the Potomac River, the and Rock Creek.

Highest Point:

410 feet (125 m) above sea level at Fort Reno in Tenleytown

Lowest Point:

At sea level along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore

- 19.4% of Washington is parkland which is managed by the U.S. .

Washington D.C. Topographic Map C I T Y L A Y O U T

- Original city street layout was designed by French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.

- It was President Washington who commissioned L’Enfant to plan the layout of the city. However, due to L’Enfant’s insistence on micromanaging the planning of the city, President Washington dismissed in 1792

- L’Enfant’s design employed a basic grid system, interweaved by diagonal avenues from rectangles. His designs incorporated a grand avenue approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) in length and 400 feet (120m) wide. The area is now the .

- L’Enfant’s vision was to create symbolic spaces that reflected the city’s status as the capital of a new nation. It was his decision to locate the Capitol Building at the city’s highest elevation which further reinforced the idea of the city as a cradle for a new democracy.

C I T Y L A Y O U T

- Original city street layout was designed by French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.

- L’Enfant employed a basic grid system, interweaved by diagonal avenues from rectangles

National Mall

- The is at the center of the design which is divided into four quadrants that radiate along the directions: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. - The quadrants are separated by North Capitol Street, South Capitol Street and East Capitol Street with a line traveling due west from the capitol through the Jefferson Pier. - The and the Independence Avenue borders the sides of the Mall. - This pattern is similar to that of the German city of Karlsruhe.

National Mall

- Due to the increase of Washington’s population, it became clear that the city needed to integrate new buildings for the public. - In 1901, the Senate created a commission composed of urban planners such as Frederick Law Olmstead, Daniel Burnham, Charles McKim and Augustus St. Gaudens to provide direction in these issues - Like L’Enfant, these urban planners looked to Europe for inspiration during the formulation of the McMillan Plan.

C I T Y L A Y O U T

- Original city street layout was designed by French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.

- L’Enfant employed a basic grid system, interweaved by diagonal avenues from rectangles

McMillan Plan C I T Y L A Y O U T

- Original city street layout was designed by French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.

- L’Enfant employed a basic grid system, interweaved by diagonal avenues from rectangles

McMillan Plan C I T Y L A Y O U T

- Original city street layout was designed by French architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant.

- L’Enfant employed a basic grid system, interweaved by diagonal avenues from rectangles

- The United States Capitol is at the center of the design which is divided into four quadrants that radiate along the directions: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. - The quadrants are separated by North Capitol Street, South Capitol Street and East Capitol Street with a line traveling due west from the capitol through the Jefferson Pier. - The Constitution Avenue and the Independence Avenue borders the sides of the Mall. - This pattern is similar to that of the German city of Karlsruhe.

A large system of freeways was planned in the District. Many, especially in the northern half, were cancelled after freeway revolts. (Cancelled freeways are shown in light blue.) Washington, D.C. metropolitan area road map Plan of Karlshruhe, Germany

- The United States Capitol is at the center of the design which is divided into four quadrants that radiate along the directions: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. - The quadrants are separated by North Capitol Street, South Capitol Street and East Capitol Street with a line traveling due west from the capitol through the Jefferson Pier. - The Constitution Avenue and the Independence Avenue borders the sides of the Mall. - This pattern is similar to that of the German city of Karlsruhe.

- Streets on the North/South orientation are designated by numbers and count upward from east to west in the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of the city, starting at the Capitol (e.g. 1st St. NW, 2nd St. NW).

- Streets on the East/West orientation use a single letter in the alphabet. East – to – West lettered streets count upwards from South to North in NW and NE (e.g. A Street, B Street).

West end of National Mall 1. 11. National Air and Space Museum 2. National Museum of American History 12. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture 3. National Museum of Natural History Garden 4. Sculpture Garden 13. Arts and Industries Building 5. West Building of the National Gallery of 14. Building Art 15. Freer Gallery of Art 6. East Building of the National Gallery of 16. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Art 17. Museum of African Art 7. 8. Ulysses S. Grant Memorial 9. United States Botanic Garden 10. National Museum of the American Indian

- In 1910, the US Congress amended the Heights of Buildings Act which limited building heights in the city. This restricted the building height to the width of the adjacent street plus 20 feet (6.1m).

- The skyline remains low and sprawing in keeping with ’s wish to make Washington an “American Paris” As a result, the Washington 1 Monument remains the city’s tallest structure at 555 feet 5 inches (169.294m). 8

E C O N O M Y

- TheStreets gross on state the North/Southproduct of Washington orientation in are 2008 designated was $97.2 by billion numbers ranking and countit No. 35upward compared from toeast the to 50 west US inStates. the Northwest 27% of the and jobs Southwest in Washington quadrants D.C can of thebe city,accounted starting to at the the federal Capitol government. (e.g. 1st St. NW, 2nd St. NW).

- Many organizations such as law firms, independent contractors, non – profit organizations,- Streets on lobbying the East/West firms, unions orientation and professional use a single associations letter in the havealphabet. their headquarters in or near Washington in order to be close to the federal East – to – West lettered streets count upwards from South to North in NW and NE government. (e.g. A Street, B Street).

GOVERNMENT

- UnderStreets Article on the One, North/South Section Eight orientation of the United are designated States Constitution, by numbers the and countU.S. Congress upward isfrom granted east theto west ultimate in the authority Northwest over and Washington Southwest D.C. quadrants of the city, starting at the Capitol (e.g. 1st St. NW, 2nd St. NW). - The passage of the 1973 Home Rule Act allowed certain Congressional powers over the District to a local government. However, Congress retains the right to review -and Streets reject on laws the created East/West by the orientation city council. use a single letter in the alphabet.

East – to – West lettered streets count upwards from South to North in NW and NE - Washington D.C. is the home of the Federal Government and the (e.g. A Street, B Street). President of the United States.

S O U R C E S

Encylopedia - StreetsEncarta on 2010 the North/South orientation are designated by numbers and count upward from east to west in the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of the Googlecity, starting Earth at the Capitol (e.g. 1st St. NW, 2nd St. NW).

Google Maps - Streets on the East/West orientation use a single letter in the alphabet. httpEast://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/ncr/designing – to – West lettered streets count upwards from South to North-capital/plates.html in NW and NE (e.g. A Street, B Street). http://www.essential-architecture.com/STYLE/STY-008.htm http://www.spur.org/publications/library/article/extending_city_beautiful http://washington.org/ http://dc.gov/DC/