Washington, D.C. aka: dc, washington, washington dc

I’ve been planning to go for a couple years now, for the dedication ceremony of the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument. It’s been pushed back year after year because more money was needed to build the thing. But now the date has been set and I’m set to go.

I booked my flight, made lodging reservations, and will be leaving in August. I. Can’t. Wait.

!!!

If it hadn’t been over 100 degrees when we visited several years back, I would have really enjoyed visiting our nations capitol. We had a fabulous time at the Smithsonian, but many of the monuments and buildings didn’t live up to what I’d imagined, but then again with all the walking and intense heat, my judgment was skewed. I’d like to go back during the fall of the year or early spring.

Washington, District of Columbia is the United States capital. It was founded on July 16, 1790. There were, first, two different cities: Washington and Territory of Columbia, but an act of Congress in 1871 made the two cities into one, know known by the name mentioned above or simply by Washington or District of Columbia. When the Europeans first arrived, around the 17th century, the area around the Anacostia River where Washington is now located, was inhabited by the Algonquian people known as the Nacotchtank. One century later, this Native American people moved from that location. There was a need for a federal district since1783, but only on July 16, 1790, the Residence Act provided for a new permanent capital to be located on the Potomac River, the exact area to be selected by President Washington. On September 9, 1791, the federal city was named in honor of George Washington, and the district was named the Territory of Columbia.

In 2008, the city had 591,833 residents, but during workweeks, with the number of people who work in it, the population increases incredibly in 71.8%. The district is located in the transition between the humid subtropical climate zone and the Humid continental climate. The weather is mainly temperate. During spring and fall, it is mild with low humidity while winter is cold with snowfalls. The annual rainfall is of about 1.400 mm.

The city is of 177 km2. Its territory was granted by the state of Maryland, which is one of the surroundings countries, together with Virginia. Approximately 19.4% of Washington, D.C. is parkland. The major parks are Rock Creek Park, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the National Mall, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Constitution Gardens, Meridian Hill Park, and Anacostia Park.

Together with the National Mall are the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National World War II M.emorial at the east end of the Reflecting Pool, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Albert Einstein Memorial. The National Air and Space Museum is amazing, even for the ones who dislike things related to the space. In it, you can touch a piece from the moon and has the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world. Other sites to visit are National Museum of Natural History, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery, which, even though is a graveyard, is extremely beautiful and the Kennedy brothers were buried in it. Regarding arts, you may want to visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum (formerly known as the National Museum of American Art) and the National Portrait Gallery. But, of course, I couldn’t forget about the White House, which serves as the President of the United States home and principal workplace, but unfortunately, is closed to the general public visitation.

The main economic activities are services, business services and media (TV channels, newspapers, magazines).

Washington, D.C. is a very important city and great for people involved in politics to live in. But all ages can have fun and learn a lot of history in this enchanting city.

By: Roberta

The city of Washington D.C., formally the District of Columbia, is located in the United States of America. It is the capital of USA (United Stated). It was founded on July 16, 1790. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River, its main river, and is bordered by the states of Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the other sides. The District has a resident population of 591,833; because of commuters from the surrounding suburbs, its population rises to over one million during the workweek. The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of 5.3 million, the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the country. Its density (inhabitants per km²) is about 3288.

The climate in the city is a temperate climate with and average of annual temperature of 15°C and an annual rainfall of about 1.400 mm.

Washington DC did not exist as either a city or a capital at the close of the American Revolution. At that time, the newly formed federal government endured a nomadic existence, setting up headquarters in eight locations, most notably New York City and Philadelphia. A weary Congress wanted a home of its own and voted in 1785 to create a permanent federal city. Divisions arose when the northern states wanted a northerly location, preferring a site along the Delaware River and the southerners wanted the capital farther south, along the Potomac River. Eventually, they compromised. It was decided if the northern states agreed to establish the capital on the Potomac, the federal government would assume the war debts of the colonies. Then, Washington was created.

To establish the new nation’s capital, Virginia and Maryland donated land to create the District of Columbia. George Washington, the first president, selected the site, at the confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. The new federal city was close to his estate, Mount Vernon, on the Potomac and near Georgetown and Maryland. The new federal enclave included Georgetown and another thriving community, Old Town Alexandria.

The main economic activities are services, business services and media (TV channels, newspapers, magazines).This consists in a local economy is as diversifying and growing, though still narrowly specialized and externally driven. The Washington area ranks first among all national metropolitan areas in federal procurement dollars. Taking advantage of that influx of capital, as well as the city’s advantage as the center of all national capital functions, will be key to the D.C. area’s future economic vitality and job growth. Also, there are more than 500 publishing and printing companies in the district to produce the vast array of documents generated by the federal government. In addition, the city houses more than 1,000 national associations’ headquarters and lobby groups who need a presence in the district to attempt to shape and influence the legislation process on their own behalf.

From small, leafy plots of land in the inner city to the giant state and regional parks found in the suburbs, our fair capital area features an abundance of lush, green spaces. With almost 90,000 protected acres, Washington D.C. rates as one of the country’s greenest metropolitan areas. No other American urban area can claim as many National Park Service properties as can Washington. Also, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is the one that protects all of these 90,000 protected areas that the capital has.

There are lots of famous streets and landmarks in Washington, for example the Pennsylvania Avenue. While it serves the city of Washington as a major east-west transit route, it is known the world over as the heart of the Nation’s Capital. On this “Avenue of Presidents,” it is celebrated the election of a president every four years with a parade down the Avenue, and honor other national heroes and foreign leaders there as well. Also known as “America’s Main Street,” the Avenue has been the site of many of our Nation’s most famous public gatherings, the place where Americans from all over the country have come together throughout our nation’s history to commemorate our triumphs and tragedies.

A vary famous landmark of Washington is the white house. For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President, of the President’s administration, and of the United States. The White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Its history, and the history of the nation’s capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district “not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac.” President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the “President’s House.” Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design. Its building started in October 13, 1792, and it was ready for occupancy on or circa November 1, 1800, although its construction was not complete. I recommend you visit this touristic points given before, because they are very beautiful and known in the whole world.

We can conclude that Washington DC is a very nice place to visit, and it has lots of green area and two of the most known touristic spots in the world, so I recommend it for all ages.

by: beatriz

U Street Baby!