Washington, D.C. - U.S. States - HISTORY.com Washington, D.C. How Washington D.C. Got Its Shape George Washington picked out the location and laid out a perfect diamond shape for the city, spanning parts of Maryland and Virginia. But a looming fight over slavery caused the Virginia side to leave the District and return to its home state, giving D.C. its strange shape. A+E Networks Introduction Washington, D.C., is the capital city of the United States, located between Virginia and Maryland on the north bank of the Potomac River. The city is home to all three branches of the federal government, as well as the White House, the Supreme Court and the Capitol Building. More than 500,000 people live in Washington, D.C. Population: 601,723 (2010) Did You Know? The city of Washington was named for George Washington (who picked the location), while the District of Columbia was named for explorer Christopher Columbus.

Size: 68 square miles Motto: Justitia omnibus – “Justice for All” Tree: Scarlet Oak Bird: Wood Thrush Interesting Facts On July 16, 1790, a compromise between Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison—known as the Residence Act—was passed, declaring George Washington’s selection of a site on the Potomac River as the nation’s new permanent capital. As part of the agreement, the federal government assumed the states’ debts. George Washington oversaw construction of the White House, but never lived in it. John and Abigail Adams became the first occupants of the presidential mansion on November 1, 1800, although only for the last four months of his presidency. While still under construction, the United States Capitol held its first session of Congress on November 17, 1800. On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the first president to be inaugurated in Washington within the Senate chamber of the Capitol. After capturing the nation’s capital during the War of 1812, British troops set fire to the White House, U.S.

Capitol, several federal buildings and private residences on August 24, 1814. First Lady Dolley Madison, who had refused to leave the White House until only a few hours before the British arrived, secured the full length portrait of George Washington and a copy of the Declaration of independence on her way out. It took 83 years to complete construction on Washington National Cathedral. Although originally conceived of in 1791 by Major Pierre L’Enfant, who had been commissioned by George Washington to design a plan for the nation’s capital, the cathedral’s creation did not commence until September 29, 1907, when a stone from a field in Bethlehem was set into a larger slab of American granite and laid in ceremony as the foundation stone. In 1990, the National Cathedral was finally completed. Citizens of the capital of the United States, who are deprived of voting representation in the national legislature, have been seeking statehood for years. On September 9, 1983, a Constitution and petition for statehood for New Columbia—as the new state would be called—was presented to Congress.

The National Air and Space Museum is one of the most popular museums in the world, attracting, on average, more than nine million visitors each year. Access hundreds of hours of historical video, commercial free, with HISTORY Vault . Start your free trial today. Tags Navigating the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Tour of the U.S. Capitol 5 The Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial. While the 555-foot tall white-colored obelisk of the Washington Monument is easily visible from many points along the Potomac River, only the top of the dome of the Jefferson Memorial protrudes above the tree tops along the river. Construction of the Washington monument began in 1848 but was not completed until 1884. Lack of funds and the American Civil War halted the construction when the monument had reached the 150-foot mark. When the project resumed in 1876, the quarry from which the original marble was obtained had been exhausted, and lighter colored marble was used to finish the monument. Every fourth of July, fireworks light up the sky around these American icons and provide entertainment for thousands of tourists and local residents.

6 The Lincoln Memorial, the Washington monument, and the Capitol are aligned in a straight line along the National Mall which is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C. The Lincoln memorial, built to honor president Abraham Lincoln in 1914, has the form of a Greek Doric temple and features a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln sitting in a majestic chair. The Lincoln memorial and the Washington monument are separated by a shallow reflecting pool. This site has been the gathering place for many civil functions and political rallies, including the famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered by Martin Luther King on August 28, 1963. The Arlington bridge connects the Lincoln memorial to Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac river. 7 The Kennedy Center, also known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, opened in 1971. The center contains the Opera House, Concert Hall, and the Eisenhower Theater. The Concert Hall has a capacity for 2,442 persons, features a 4,144-pipe organ, and provides a stage for many world-renowned musicians throughout the year. The Opera House is located in the center of the building between the Concert Hall and the Eisenhower theater.

The Opera House has 2,300 seats decorated in red velvet, and the stage has a distinctive red and gold silk curtain. The Opera House is the major venue for opera, ballet, and large-scale musical productions. Placido Domingo and Pavarotti are just two of the great singers who have appeared here. The Eisenhower Theater seats 1,100 persons and hosts smaller-scale operas, plays, ballet and contemporary dance. 8 The Watergate Building is a river-side hotel and apartment building that gained notoriety during the Nixon administration. The Watergate building is located near George Washington University and not far from Georgetown. The Watergate scandal resulted from a 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. The break-in was directed by members of President Richard Nixon's administration. The cover-up of the break-in involved a large number of persons close to the administration, and led to the resignation of President Nixon. 9 Washington Harbor is located near the mouth of Rock Creek. The harbor developed as a place for boats to anchor as they waited to travel through the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal).

The canal operated from 1836 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, DC. Better roads and rail lines made the canal obsolete. Today, Washington harbor is mostly a recreational stop that provides access to restaurants, cafes, hotels and boardwalks. The harbor is just three blocks from M Street in Georgetown which has a very active night life. A hotel and business center at the harbor have waterfront restaurants that provide a view of the boats passing along the Potomac. The harbor is protected from flooding by a system of columns with gates that can be raised to form a retaining wall when the water of the river rises. 10 Key Bridge and Georgetown. Key Bridge, named in honor of Francis Scott Key, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge conveying traffic on U.S. Route 29 across the Potomac River between Rosslyn in Virginia and Georgetown in DC. Georgetown was first settled by Europeans in 1696, and was incorporated as a town in 1751. It predates the establishment of the city of Washington and the District of Columbia. From the river, the steeples of the Georgetown University buildings stand out above all other landmarks.

Georgetown University, the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university, was founded in 1789, the same year the U.S. Constitution took effect. The Potomac River Flows Through Cities, History The Potomac River Flows Through Cities, History October 21, 2013 The Potomac River is the wildest river in the world to flow through a heavily populated area. Share Copy and paste the embed code below. The code has been copied to your clipboard. From VOA Learning English, welcome to This Is America. I'm Jim Tedder. And I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Today we tell about the Potomac River. The Potomac is one of America’s most historic waterways. It flows more than 600 kilometers, from the Allegheny Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. Winding Through Cities and States The Potomac River is the wildest river in the world that flows through a heavily populated area. On its way from the mountains to the ocean, it runs through West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and the United States capital, Washington, DC.

The Potomac River supplies water for most of the six million people who live in the DC area. Millions of people use the river and the land nearby for boating, fishing, bird watching and other recreational activities. The area is home to birds such as the great blue heron and the American bald eagle. The Potomac River has played an important part in American history. For example, America's first president, George Washington, lived for many years along the Potomac in Virginia. He urged that the river be developed to link Americans with the West. We Go Where People Lived Thousands of Years Ago... The wind is blowing hard along the Potomac today, making the water dangerous in some places. So we will make our trip along the river virtually, without ever having to leave the room. For our virtual tour, we will take a small boat, a canoe we move through the water by rowing oars or paddles. Our trip will take seven or eight days. The boat has only enough space for two or three people. But there is other traffic on the river. We do not feel alone. We start in the calm waters of Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

A travel guide tells us that people lived here 15,000 years ago. The Potomac River was a meeting place for American Indians long before Europeans arrived. The Indians gathered to trade food and furs. Today, people often find objects that the Indians left behind. Harper's Ferry, West Virginia We work hard to power our virtual canoe, and are happy to stop and rest at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. During the 19th century, this village was an important transportation center for the river, a smaller waterway and a railroad. At Harpers Ferry, the Potomac flows through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here it meets the Shenandoah River. From our boat we can see the water flowing toward huge rocks. Green trees cover the mountains on either side. Round white clouds hang low against a blue sky. It looks very peaceful. A Place of Rebellion But this area is not known for peace. In 1859, the United States was close to civil war between the northern and southern states. The federal government stored weapons at Harpers Ferry. John Brown and 18 of his supporters captured the storage center. However, federal troops recaptured it the next day. Brown was later hanged.

But his name was made famous forever by American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson wrote that although Brown had died, his spirit would march on. Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882: A Great 19th Century Writer and Philosopher Harpers Ferry became a national historical park in 1944. Today the park welcomes visitors who come to learn about life along the Potomac River. It's a Bird... Bird-watching is a favorite activity in the park, where more than 170 bird species have been identified. Great blue herons populate a part of the historic area, and Canada geese can be seen along the edges of the Shenandoah Canal. The park also has pileated woodpeckers and Baltimore orioles. Most of the time we sail smoothly down the Potomac. But sometimes the river is wild. George Washington understood that the Potomac was difficult to travel on, even for much bigger boats than the canoe. He proposed a waterway to avoid dangerous areas along the Potomac. But he did not live to see it built. Washington died in 1799.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built more than 25 years later. Over the years, continued flooding from the Potomac damaged the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Today it no longer carries goods. Instead, the C&O Canal is a national park. Kayaks and barges float on the waterway, passing through locks. These devices close off the canal and use special gates to raise or lower the boats. They do this by raising or lowering the water level. The Towpath The area between the Potomac and the canal is called a towpath. It extends about 300 kilometers from Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland. Today we see families walking their dogs along the towpath. Other people are running or riding bicycles. Still others are fishing. Swimming is not permitted. Visitors to the towpath sometimes see brick ovens, or remains of brick ovens. A national park employee tells us that people who lost their homes during the Great Depression once warmed their meals in the ovens. Dangerous Waters Ahead... Now we are getting close to the city of Washington. Here the river begins to look dangerous. Signs warn boats away from the 24 kilometers of the Potomac Gorge.

People leave their canoes to walk along the towpath. Water moves fast in the gorge. There are many rocks and waterfalls. The gorge begins above a large waterfall called Great Falls. Here the water drops to sea level. The gorge then extends to Theodore Roosevelt Island, named for America's 26th president. A Great Blue Heron Here we may get a good look at a blue heron. This beautiful bird stands for a minute on a rock on one long, thin leg. An eagle spreads its wide wings in the sky, but does not land. We Enter Washington We take land transportation to follow the river into America's capital. Washington, DC was built on low wetlands in 1800. The British burned the city in 1812. But Americans soon rebuilt it. While in Washington, we decide to continue our virtual trip on the Potomac in a larger boat. This will take us past George Washington's home in an area just south of Alexandria, Virginia. He helped design the big white house, called Mount Vernon. The former president and his wife Martha are buried on the property. Mt.

Vernon ​Today we see sheep and goats eating grass on the hill between the back of the house and the river. This sight probably looks about the same as it did when George Washington directed activities at his beautiful riverside farm. The Threat of Pollution After passing Mount Vernon, we end our trip on the Potomac River as it flows toward the Chesapeake Bay. By now, we have a deep feeling for the beauty of the river. But the beauty always exists under threat of pollution. Over the centuries, industry, agriculture and human development severely damaged the environment of the Potomac. By the 1970s, people described the river's condition as sickening. Then Congress passed the Clean Water Act in 1972. The water quality has improved greatly since then. Yet coal mines in West Virginia still drop harmful acids into the water. Waste materials from the Anacostia River float on the Potomac. Sediment material that falls to the bottom prevents traffic on some parts of the river. Pesticide products and fertilizers pollute the water. Many environmentalists worry about the building of new homes and businesses along the river.

Potomac River The Potomac faces many environmental problems as a result of population growth and its resulting pressures on land and water resources. The river flows through land controlled by developers, private owners, and state and local governments. These groups often have conflicting ideas about what is good and bad for the river. Several organizations work to protect and improve the Potomac River and the land near it. The Potomac Conservancy is one of those organizations. It carries out a land protection program, develops land and water restoration projects, and provides education programs for adults and young people. We hope that Americans will always take care of their historic Potomac River. This program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Kelly Jean Kelly. I’m Jim Tedder. And I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. To read, listen and learn English with our programs, go to learningenglish.voanews.com. Join us again next week for another This Is America with VOA Learning English. Potomac River: A Guide to Washington DC's Waterfront By Rachel Cooper Updated February 16, 2016. The Potomac River is the fourth largest river along the Atlantic coast and the 21st largest in the United States.

It runs over 383 miles from Fairfax Stone, West Virginia to Point Lookout, Maryland and drains 14,670 square miles of land area from four states and Washington DC. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay and affects more than 6 million people who live within the Potomac watershed, the land area where water drains towards the mouth of the river. See a map. George Washington envisioned the nation's capital as a commercial center as well as the seat of government. He chose to establish the “federal city” along the Potomac River because it already included two major port towns: Georgetown and Alexandria . "Potomac" was one of two Algonquin names for the river forming the northern boundary of Virginia, and it meant "great trading place" or "place where people trade." The Potomac's common spelling through the 18th century was "Patowmack." An earlier spelling was "Patawomeke." The spelling of the name was simplified over the years to "Potomac".

continue reading below our video Best Road Trip Apps See Photos of Washington DC from the Potomac River Washington, DC began using the Potomac River as its main source of drinking water with the opening of the Washington Aqueduct in 1864. An average of approximately 486 million gallons of water is used daily in the Washington DC area. Almost 86 percent of the region’s population receives its drinking water from public water suppliers while 13 percent uses well water. Due to increasing urban development, the aquatic habitat of the Potomac River and its tributaries are vulnerable to eutrophication, heavy metals, pesticides and other toxic chemicals. The Potomac Watershed Partnership , a collaborative group of conservation organizations, work together to protect the Potomac River watershed. Major Tributaries of the Potomac River The Potomac's major tributaries include: the Anacostia River , Antietam Creek, the Cacapon River, Catoctin Creek, Conocoheague Creek, the Monocacy River, the North Branch, the South Branch, the Occoquan River, the Savage River, the Senaca Creek, and the Shenandoah River.

Major Cities in the Potomac Basin Major cities in the Potomac Basin include: Washington, DC; Bethesda, Cumberland, Hagerstown, Frederick, Rockville, Waldorf, and St. Mary's City in Maryland; Chambersburg and Gettysburg in Pennsylvania; Alexandria, Arlington, Harrisonburg, and Front Royal in Virginia; and Harper's Ferry, Charles Town, and Martinsburg in West Virginia. Major Potomac River Waterfront Locations in the Washington DC Area Great Falls – The national park is a spectacular natural landmark with some of the best scenery in the region. Recreation activities including hiking, picnicking, kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling, and horseback riding. Georgetown – The waterfront community is one of DC’s most interesting places to shop and dine. It’s a great neighborhood to explore with many historic sites, museums and plenty of things to do. Kayaking and bicycling are especially popular. Southwest Waterfront – This neighborhood is rapidly developing and is expected to incur major changes in the next decade. The waterfront area is currently home to Arena Stage , marinas, restaurants and nightclubs.

Alexandria – The scenic Northern Virginia neighborhood is known for its quaint character and 18th and 19th century homes, museums, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Boating and bicycling opportunities are available. Mount Vernon – The estate and gardens of George Washington are set on a hill overlooking the Potomac River. The historic site is a “must see” destination, located 14 miles south of Washington, DC. National Harbor - The mixed-use community, opened in the spring of 2008, includes hotels, restaurants, retail stores, condominiums, a full-service marina, a convention center , and commercial office space. Special events are held throughout the year along the Potomac waterfront. George Washington Memorial Parkway - The road is a part of the National Park system and connects Washington DC attractions and historic sites stretching from Great Falls Park to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. Several memorials, marinas and parks are located along the way.

Recreation Along the Potomac River Bicycling and Running - Paved hiker/biker trails along the Potomac River include the Capital Crescent Trail which runs from Georgetown to Bethesda, Maryland, the Mount Vernon Trail which extends from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Mount Vernon, Virginia and the C&O Towpath which follows the Potomac River between Georgetown and Cumberland, Maryland. Kayaking - Local sport outfitters offer kayak rentals and lessons at various destinations along the Potomac River. Sightseeing Cruises – A variety of cruises are available, departing from Washington, DC, Alexandria, Mount Vernon and National Harbor. Organizations and Related Resources A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. [ushistory.org] 20d. A New National Capital: Washington, D.C. This image, View of the Capitol at Washington by William H. Bartlett, was engraved by Joseph C. Bently in 1837. The Louisiana Purchase and rapid western expansion were crucial developments during the early republic. But attention there can misleadingly suggest that the United States rapidly assumed the shape we know today.

Focusing on how the capital city of the federal government changed in the early years of the nation reminds us of the limited nature of the early central government. Like so many other elements of the new nation, even the most basic features of the capital city were unsettled. President Washington first took office in New York City, but, when reelected in 1792, the capital had already moved to Philadelphia where it would remain for a decade. Fittingly, Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in the new and lasting capital of Washington, D.C. in March 1801. The site of the new capital was the product of political compromise. As part of the struggle over Hamilton's financial policy, Congress supported the Bank of the United States which would be headquartered in Philadelphia. In exchange the special District of Columbia, to be under Congressional control, would be built on the Potomac River. The compromise represented a symbolic politics of the very highest order. While Hamilton's policies encouraged the consolidation of economic power in the hands of bankers, financiers, and merchants who predominated in the urban northeast, the political capital was to be in a more southerly and agricultural region apart from those economic elites.

A dramatic aerial view of the U.S. Capitol and its surroundings in modern-day Washington, D.C. Once the site for the new capital was selected in 1790, President Washington retained Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French engineer and former officer in the Continental Army, to design and lay out the new capital city. His grand plan gave pride of place to the capitol building which would stand on a hill overlooking the flatlands around the Potomac. A long open mall connected the legislative building to the river and was to be bordered by varied stately buildings. Radiating out from the capital were a number of broad avenues one of which would connect with the president's house. Much of L'Enfant's grand vision was ignored during the nineteenth century, but starting in 1901 the plan was vigorously reborn. Today, Washington, D.C., is an impressive capital city that physically expresses many central values of the modern United States. It gloriously honors the nation's commitment to democracy and political life in impressive government buildings. The capital also maintains the nation's historical memory in monuments along the mall that commemorate key events and people.

Finally, the city also announces the nation's commitment to knowledge and human achievement in the spectacular Smithsonian museums. At the same time the capital also symbolizes less celebrated aspects of modern America. Washington, D.C.'s impressive center around the mall is surrounded by urban poverty, a crisis facing most large American cities. The gulf separating American success and failure is on display nowhere more sharply. This drawing, published in 1805, is considered the earliest picture of what became the White House in Washington D.C. The most distant building, in the left center, was where John Adams lived during his presidency. Today's Washington, D.C., however, is a far cry from the humble place that Jefferson entered in 1801. Then just beginning to emerge from a swampy location along the Potomac, the city claimed only 5,000 inhabitants, many of them temporary residents to serve the incoming politicians. The Senate building had been completed, but the building for the House of Representatives was still incomplete as was the president's house. Jefferson took office while living in a boardinghouse! The limited physical stature of the capital city matched the modest scope of the federal government in the early republic which only included 130 officials.

In fact, with the exception of the postal service, the national government provided almost no services that reached ordinary people in their everyday lives. For most people in the early republic the most meaningful political decisions were made at the state and local level. Capital Wasteland - The Vault Fallout wiki - Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas, and more! The Collapse[ edit | edit source ] The city of Washington and the surrounding environs were the heart of the pre-War United States and, as a result, a prime strategic target for the People's Republic of China . As the Sino-American War drew to a conclusion, the city has been increasingly fortified against a nuclear attack . Buildings were reinforced with armored layers to deflect the blast wave and preserve their structural integrity and safeguard the legacy of the American nation, [1] while infrastructure was upgraded and modified to become fully automated and capable of working even after centuries of no maintenance. [2] The last monument to be erected within the city is the Anchorage War Memorial , situated on FDR Island in the Potomac River it was constructed after the conclusion of the Anchorage Reclamation .

[3] By March 2077, in the light of the recent advances by the American military against the Chinese , key military, civilian, and corporate leaders abandoned Washington and the United States, expecting a retaliatory nuclear strike. [4] The situation came to pass in October, when the American offensive pushed deep towards Beijing . National Guard units and their auxiliaries were mobilized and deployed throughout the nation. The most highly trained units were dedicated to Washington, D.C. , to assist and evacuate the civilian population. Most servicemen were not briefed on the imminent threat. [5] When nuclear weapons began to land on American soil, the West Coast was struck first. Its disappearance from the grid acted as an early warning, allowing civilians to get to shelter, and the armed forces to mobilize. In the end, it did not make much of a difference, as the future Capital Wasteland was saturated with nuclear weapons, coming in multiple waves. [6] The densely urbanized center of Washington was spared most of the direct impact. [7] The intense thermal radiation from the bombardment set much of downtown Washington on fire. The conflagration lasted for weeks, perhaps even months.

The National Mall was one of the few areas mostly spared from the fire. Some survivors used the Museums surrounding it for shelter. Others lost their mind after witnessing so much devastation, causing an already chaotic situation to degenerate further. [8] Outside the city the situation was hardly better. What remained of the military joined remnants of the auxiliary units and civilian authorities, trying to establish a semblance of order and begin cleanup operations. [9] However, the situation rapidly deteriorated. The absence of top level leadership resulted in a power vacuum and inability to coordinate relief efforts. While what remains of the authorities does its best to contain the situation and reclaim the devastated landscape (removing irradiated soil and dumping it in makeshift hazmat areas [10] , cordoning off irradiated areas like the Metro . [11] and setting up a network of military checkpoints on roads to control the flow of refugees [12] ), their efforts are too little to turn the tide. The desertion rate is high, [13] increased by the high mortality rate among refugees exposed to radiation, [14] and the ever decreasing ability of the remaining authorities to properly care for them.

[15] Many of the servicemen and their auxiliaries also suffer from radiation poisoning . [16] In the face of a total collapse of society and the relief effort, the remaining authorities collapse, leaving the wasteland in a state of chaos. [17] A peculiar monument to this collapsed state was created when a dry docked aircraft carrier at the Washington Naval Yard attempted to exit the yard, but wound up beaching on the southern shore of D.C. proper. [18] Anarchy[ edit | edit source ] Survivors of the war took shelter in every sewer , Metro , and purpose built shelter they could throughout the region. [19] Those that emerged would settle where they could. Those that could not settle themselves, either because of lack of knowledge or materiel, would become the regions raiders . One of the first settlements of the region was established around this time. Wastelanders seeking entrance to Vault 101 took shelter in what amounted to a large hole and eventually renovated it to found Megaton , the first regional trade hub. Another notable settlement is the Republic of Dave , a homestead established by a number of citizens that believed that the U.S.

government had become hopelessly corrupt and that the country was in grave danger from anarchists, liberals, and communists. These individuals relocated to remove rural locations, established private militias, and promised that they would one day take back the government for the people. They never got the chance. The bombs fell, shattering all world governments. Most of these separatists were killed in the war or the chaos that followed. However, a few dug in deep enough and survived the worst of the first few decades – an oasis of civilization in an irradiated hellhole. Although not all survivors were as lucky. One such similar settlement established on a hill would quickly fall to the hostilities of the anarchy. Its ruins are still accessible on the hill, a ghastly reminder of how important defenses are. Some time between the Great War and the early 2250s , Rockopolis was settled, established a kingdom, and was raised by the slavers of Paradise Falls for sale to the Pitt .

23rd century[ edit | edit source ] Around 2237 , remnants of the Naval Research Institute under the lead of Horace Pinkerton established the Rivet Station Science Outpost within the derelict aircraft carrier at the terminus of the Anacostia River . For years to come they would use the intact science bay as the nucleus of their science efforts. [20] By April 2239 , a burgeoning civilian settlement sprung up around the station on the carrier. As a result, on April 25th, Rivet City was formally established by Horace Pinkerton , Annette Holmes and Brad Danvers to better protect and organize this growing community. [21] Governance of the City was relegated to a three person Council, staffed by one representative of each "caste" on board the ship: Scientists, civilians, and security personnel. Rivet City would eventually grow to become one of the largest and most prosperous settlements in the desolate Capital Wasteland. [22] Main articles: Brotherhood of Steel expedition to D.C.

, Schism Another major change occurred when Paladin Owyn Lyons and his detachment arrived in the Capital Wasteland in 2255 , establishing a base of operations within the Pentagon in the first few months. [23] Though the Pentagon was largely destroyed, its sub-levels remained, for the most part, intact and its surviving stockpiles contained undisturbed pre-War technology and weaponry to sustain their operations. The crown jewel though was Liberty Prime . [24] The discovery of Liberty Prime earned Paladin Lyons a battlefield promotion to Elder , and a new directive from his superiors in Southern California – to establish a new, permanent Brotherhood base in the Capital Wasteland, and continue the search for any other advanced technology hidden in the former capital city's ruins. Shortly after their arrival, Lyons' scouts have identified a new threat in the area: a peculiar breed of super mutants , infesting the nearly deserted ruins of downtown D.C. Concerned by their presence and convinced that they are the primary threat to the Wasteland, Lyons initiated a protracted campaign of aggression to eradicate them that would last over two decades, claiming men and materiel for no appreciable return on the investment.

[25] Around the same time, they lent assistance to James and Catherine , a pair of scientists attempting to build a mass-scale purifier, intending to supply the wasteland with a virtually inexhaustible source of fresh, purified water , reducing their dependence on local purification methods. Ultimately, Project Purity failed to take off, despite the Brotherhood's involvement. Frustrated, Lyons withdrew his forces, leaving the Project to fend for itself. Project Purity died shortly after, together with Catherine, James' wife. [26] The effect of prolonged engagement with the super mutants caused chapter to retract their forces from the wasteland. Once occupying the MDPL mass relay station and regularly patrolling the wasteland, they fell into a policy of close quarters combat within the nearly abandoned city ruins, which caused even more strain on their resources and personnel. The prolonged retreat from their original objectives and lack of strategic thinking eventually drove the chapter to split in 2276 , known as the Schism . A large group of Brotherhood loyalists broke off from Lyons' chapter and formed their own: the Brotherhood Outcasts .

Rallying behind Paladin Henry Casdin , the dissenters abandoned Lyons' command and left the Citadel, taking a large part of its weapons and equipment stockpiles with them. New settlements and routes[ edit | edit source ] Having existed before 2050 , the slave trade was well established in the region. Based out of Paradise Falls , the regions' slavers enslave transients and the occasional small community to sell to markets in other regions; such was the case of Rockopolis and Minefield . The region however was not entirely hostile to settlements. One such settlement, the Republic of Dave , was founded by survivors of the Great War. It would teeter between Kingdom and Republic, following a tradition of naming the settlement after its leader at the time, (ie, in order; Kingdom of Larry, the Republic of Stevie-Ray, Billsylvania, the New Republic of Stevie-Ray, the Kingdom of Tom; and finally the Republic of Dave). Founded in 2258, Canterbury Commons was established as a trade post by Ernest Roe and his sister Daisy .

Though raider attacks in 2271 and 2274 killed Daisy and her husband Louis Pacion , it remained a stable, defensible settlement, until a few months before August 2077 . This is when Tanya Christoff sunk deeply into madness and took on the AntAgonizer persona to destroy Canterbury Commons, believing it to be a blight on the wasteland. The AntAgonist's ability with the ants enabled her to command them and would occasionally attack to town, but she was never a serious threat. In fact, the town actually considered it entertaining. That is, until the day when one of the AntAgonizer's attacks destroyed Scott Wollinski 's favorite robot. With encouragement from Derek Pacion he created and took on the persona of the Mechanist to protect the town. Ironically, the Mechanist's involvement was to the settlements detriment, as one would expect from giant ants and combat robots with heavy weaponry actively fighting in the town. The settlement of Grayditch was founded by two families, the Brandice's and the Wilks.

While the Wilks were locals seeking shelter in the dilapidated town, the Brandices sought asylum in the Capital Wasteland after deserting the Enclave and had fled all the way from Navarro . All was well for this homestead until the scientist Weston Lesko decided to settle there himself. Once established in town he set up his own laboratory in the Metro tunnels just past Marigold station , seeking to study the giant ants and eventually reverse the mutation of their gigantisism . Unfortunately he was too hasty and shortsighted. His decision to use FEV to reverse the effects of their mutation created fire ants that destroyed the town. Only he and Bryan Wilks survived the swarm. The settlement of Girdershade was founded as the homestead of Sierra Petrovita and another group of homesteaders. It was constructed underneath the collapsed overpass highway to the south of Washington, D.C. , giving the homestead its name. After the other original homesteaders were killed, Ronald Laren took their place. However not all settlements succeed: the wasteland gypsy village was founded in an area completely lacking in potable water , a stable food supply, and defensible position.

The transportation of the region doesn't follow the pre-War roads rails or highways for the most part, with new trails superseding most of the pre-War pathways. Most of the roads and rail lines are buried by sentiment, while the region's elevated highways and reinforced concrete bridges collapsed. The region however is not devoid of a port: the riverboat landing is in operation. Main articles: The Purifier Conflict , Fallout 3 quests Section needed This section is needed but has not been written yet. You can help The Vault by writing it . Environment[ edit | edit source ] A building reinforced with armored screens to increase its survival chance against a nuclear attack. These corner-mounted installations would also serve as hardpoints for air defense, such as sirens, spotlights and similiar. [1] The region known as the Capital Wasteland has been severely warped by the apocalypse. Although it was a lush temperate region before the war, the climate shift caused by the unprecedented scale of nuclear warfare unleashed on the world has led to desertification. Once made fertile by the Potomac, the Capital Wasteland turned increasingly desolate as the river dried up over the years.

By 2277, the once mighty River is little more than a swamp, with wastelanders able to cross it with dry feet in most places above roughly the suburb of Farragut . The drying up of the watershed has impacted the ecosystem and agricultural prospects in the region, with most plants unable to thrive in these conditions and the population of animals falling down accordingly. [27] The situation changes in the more urbanized areas of the region. Washington, D.C. weathered the nuclear storm, but sustained severe wounds in the process. Much of the downtown area of the city has been reduced to rubble, its buildings but shells containing hundreds of tons of rubble. Certain neighborhoods evaded complete destruction and remain in a better shape, although that's not saying much. Curiously, the automated infrastructure has survived intact, with automated power stations continuing to provide power, allowing capable survivalists to benefit from the technology of the ancients.

[2] The adjoining territories of the pre-War states of Maryland and Virginia are home not only to derelict villages and townships, but also remnants of the pre-War grandeur of the United States: the grand Fort Bannister and the mysterious Fort Constantine , the crumbling Wheaton Armory and National Guard depot , and what remains of its industry; the Corvega Factory and the Nuka-Cola Plant , as well as the extensive pre-War power line and Monorail networks of Virginia and Maryland are but a few examples. Flora[ edit | edit source ] Compared to the rest of the United States mainland, the Capital Wasteland appears to suffer from severe contamination. Even two centuries after the war, the remaining radiation continues to interfere with agriculture, with all but the hardiest mutated plants able to take root in the contaminated soil. [28] Most cities cannot support regular agriculture and trade for the necessary food . A fine example is Megaton , which has its own water treatment plant , but lacks agriculture and buys its food from traders. [29] Fauna[ edit | edit source ] Much of the wildlife inhabiting what is now called the Capital Wasteland died out.

While the ecosystem has been severely damaged, some species survived and adapted to the changing circumstances. For instance the mirelurks are pre-War crab and turtle species that inhabited the Potomac, which have adapted to surviving in the radioactive waters of the semi-dried up river. [30] [31] Yao guai are also fierce, mutated bears indigenous to the region, whose natural lethality and resilience were only enhanced by radiation-induced mutations. Radscorpions are also a common sight, evolved in much the same way as their cousins in the west. Their smaller insectoid siblings, bloatflies , have also increased in size, though are relatively harmless – and a good source of protein for hunters . [32] The relatively stable, even natural ecosystem that emerged in the Capital Wasteland is disturbed by an unique type of wildlife, endemic to the border areas of Virginia: Vault 87 super mutants . These giant, yellow-green beasts have a rudimentary level of intelligence and are capable of constructing simple structures and clothing, as well as operating tools of varying complexity.

A fixture of the Wasteland since 2078 , they became a permanent nuisance, dragging away people to be turned into super mutants, but never achieving major success due to their brain damage and lack of organization. Unlike other animals, super mutants are seen largely as pests and culled appropriately when practical. [33] Politics and economy[ edit | edit source ] Compared to the developed lands of the West Coast , the Capital Wasteland lives up to its name. The individual settlements are few and far in between, with the heavy presence of wild animals and especially human raiders , as well as the absence of viable farmland or stable sources of water heavily inhibiting the ability to recover. The largest settlement and de facto hegemon of the Wasteland is Rivet City, the primary supplier of edible, non-irradiated food in the Capital Wasteland, trading it for essential raw materials with other communities. [34] Its scientific prowess is thanks to its aggressive reclamation efforts: anything useful is snatched up and brought to the City. [35] However, it refrains from recruiting scientists from outside settlements, such as the Underworld or Tenpenny Tower , as the vote proposed failed.

[22] Anyone trying to pick a fight with Rivet City over this would soon realize his mistake, given that the city has the fourth most powerful military force in the wastelands, right after the Enclave and Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel and Talon Company . Although named as a simple security force, it is trained in combat by veterans ( Lana Danvers and Harkness ) and equipped with military-grade 1st generation combat armor alongside reliable automatic weapons. [34] Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel of 2277 is a diminished, weakened force, suffering from a shortage of qualified combat personnel and severely depleted stocks of weapons and equipment, a direct result of twenty years of trying to destroy the super mutants by hunting them in ruins of D.C. The Brotherhood has limited presence outside the Citadel , with only a handful of reinforced outposts scattered across the District of Columbia metropolitan area. [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] This is in no small part due to the Schism and the formation of the Brotherhood Outcasts in 2276 .

A year after the split, the Outcasts maintain a system of regular patrols, scouring the wasteland for technology, and began to excavate several locations, including the Virtual Strategic Simulations facility , in order to complete the original mission objectives. Ultimately, they plan to regroup with loyalist chapters in the West, though presently, they are stuck protecting Fort Independence and their considerable stockpile of powerful technology. [41] Beyond the three organizations, the largest active group is the Talon Company . Rumors circulate that an unknown client has hired it to instigate a campaign of terror, preventing any meaningful recovery from taking place. [42] The Enclave has been reduced to disorganized remnants after the conclusion of the Purifier Conflict and the destruction or capture of their major command centers, weapons stockpiles, and elimination of the bulk of the manpower. [43] Slavers of Paradise Falls , a major supplier of slaves to The Pitt and clients throughout the Capital Wastes, though often lumped together with the Talons and the Enclave, are disinterested in power plays and continue enslaving the weak for the benefit of the strong – and their own coffers.

[44] There are plenty of other, smaller settlements in the Capital Wasteland, which do not factor into the power structure. The most unique of these is the Underworld , a haven for ghouls set up in the Museum of History . As it lies in the center of an active war zone, it is shielded from all but the most persistent of attackers. [45] By extension, it isn't a part of the small trade route set up by Canterbury Commons ' "Uncle" Ernest Roe , providing one of the few reliable links between existing settlements. It is maintained by four merchants with modest protection and provides much needed economic activity among the settlements in the wasteland. [46] In general, the economy of the Capital Wasteland is predominantly focused on subsistence and scavenging. The depopulation through nuclear fire has ensured that vast amounts of wealth remain untapped within the ruins, for those brave enough to enter them and scavenge. As mentioned above, slavery is a particularly lucrative business, though with a limited clientele.

[44] Hunters can also expect to make a good living in the wasteland, as the changed ecosystem still produces prey that can make for a fine source of meat – even if that prey moves on two legs . [47] The following is concept art of the Capital Wasteland by Adam Adamowicz : Satellite map of the Capital Wasteland cut from the final game. The Capital Wasteland appears only in Fallout 3 . References American Experience | Alexander Hamilton | People & Events | The Dinner Table Bargain, June 1790 | PBS The Dinner Table Bargain, June 1790 6 of 7 On a June evening in 1790 Thomas Jefferson hosted one of the most momentous dinner parties in U.S. history, one that would shape, and perhaps even save, the American republic. Locating a Capital City Jefferson had arrived in New York, then capital of the United States, in March 1790. The newly appointed Secretary of State had been abroad for five years, serving as American minister to France. But though he had missed the Constitutional Convention and subsequent ratification, Jefferson could not escape the aftermath. Two key issues had emerged.

First, although the Constitution had mandated a seat of federal authority, it had not specified where, and 16 potential locations had been suggested, from New York to the banks of the Potomac River. The vast majority were in the north, leading Virginians like James Madison to fear loss of influence for the state that many still called their "country." Madison used all arguments at his disposal, including the Potomac site's proximity to George Washington's home at Mount Vernon. But the tide was against him in Congress, and by the spring of 1790 it appeared likely that the permanent capital would be placed somewhere geographically central, like Pennsylvania , where the Continental Congress had first met. Strengthening National Government The second issue did not spring from the Constitution itself, but rather from Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's interpretation of it. A believer in strong central authority, Hamilton was convinced that the Constitution gave him the implied power to pursue fiscal policies that increased the national government's strength. One such policy was a federal assumption of all state debts, then estimated at about $25 million. Hamilton believed this policy would standardize the nation's accounts, help establish America's credit abroad, and make the federal government of necessity the chief taxing authority.

Furthermore, it would bind the small group of wealthy businessmen who held most of the debt to the national government; as it prospered, so would they. Loss of States' Control That fact drew howls of protest from those, including many Virginians, who saw the nation's future in decentralized agrarian terms. To them the debt holders were enemies of American democracy, corrupt urban elites who would use their economic power to buy influence in Congress. Many had snatched up the debt for fractions of its face value from Revolutionary War veterans; now undeserving speculators would make all the profit. Furthermore, states like Virginia, which had paid off nearly all their debts, would now be forced through federal taxation to subsidize other states that had not. Far from helping states out, the federal government was taking control of their economies. "It seems to me," Revolutionary hero Henry Lee wrote Madison, "that we Southern people must be slaves in effect, or cut the Gordian knot at once. ... Is your love for the Constitution so ardent ...

that it should produce ruin to your native country [Virginia]?" Madison, who had co-authored the pro-Constitution The Federalist with Hamilton, spoke out against the debt assumption plan, and the House voted Hamilton's proposal down in April 1790. Sectional tempers flared, and an impasse loomed. Dinner and a Grand Compromise It was against this backdrop that Jefferson ran into Hamilton one June day outside Washington's New York office. According to Jefferson, Hamilton looked "somb[er], haggard, and dejected beyond comparison." If assumption were definitively rejected, he would resign as Treasury Secretary, and Hamilton feared dire consequences for the republic. Though claiming ignorance as to the debate's specifics, Jefferson offered to host a dinner that would bring Hamilton and Madison together to discuss the situation. On the evening of June 20, they reached an accord; in exchange for Hamilton supporting the Potomac site, Madison would no longer block assumption in Congress and indeed would deliver crucial Virginia votes for the measure.

This "dinner table bargain" played out in July; first the House voted on the 10th to approve the Potomac location, and then on the 26th, four Representatives from states bordering the Potomac switched their votes and Hamilton's assumption plan narrowly passed. A grand and lasting compromise had been achieved. Fact vs. Legend Though historians have judged Jefferson's account of the now legendary "dinner table bargain" to be largely truthful, it has self-serving aspects and does not present the whole picture. Far from being dreamt up in a single evening, the contours of the compromise were being negotiated before June 20; a number of meetings had been held between various interested parties, and Jefferson himself had participated in at least one of them. In addition, by the time of the dinner, Madison already had the votes he needed to win on the capital issue, though Hamilton did help smooth that bill's passage. What Virginia really got out of the evening (and Jefferson's account omits) was a $1.5 million lowering of her tax obligations under the assumption plan, at the time a considerable sum. It was a concession Hamilton was likely happy to make, since it enabled him to win the larger assumption battle.

Federal financial policy would be shaped by his vision, not that of Virginia farmers, and in time Jefferson would come to denounce the dinner bargain, claiming Hamilton had duped him into it. But Jefferson would have at least one compensation; in March 1801 he became the first man to take the presidential oath of office in a new capital city built on the banks of the Potomac, just a short distance from Mount Vernon, that would be named Washington . page created on 05.08.2007 Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria Source: Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Alexandria Overview Brochure Alexandria was chartered by the General Assembly in 1749, immediately after a charter for a parallel town at Dumfries was approved. Scottish merchants were the sparkplugs behind the creation of the two new communities; the tobacco warehouses already at those locations were magnets for customers. Both port cities were given the same set of street names, but the merchants ultimately chose one city over the other. Dumfries faded as a commercial center, in part because its harbor silted in and ocean-going ships found it difficult to reach the Dumfries wharves for loading/unloading cargo.

In contrast, the capacity to load ships at Alexandria was improved by filling in the shallow harbor and extending the wharves into deeper water. Two blocks of land have been added to the waterfront, extending today from the back of the Carlyle House to the boardwalk in front of the Torpedo Factory Art Gallery Carlyle House in Alexandria (circled) and extent of land filled to create new waterfront Source: GIS Spatial Data Server at Radford University The relationship between Alexandria and the rest of Virginia has been complex at times. Alexandria was once part of Lord Fairfax's "proprietary" land grant. Theoretically, after the initial grant to King Charles II's friends, the area was outside the control of colonial officials to issue land grants. Alexandria was transferred to the District of Columbia when the national capital moved from Philadelphia to the Potomac River in 1800. George Washington had maneuvered to have the developed portion of the Potomac waterfront in Virginia included within the boundaries of the new national capital, under the terms of the 1790 Residence Act. The southern tip of the District boundary was defined by a stone placed at Jones Point.

Jones Point, southern tip of DC (before land upstream was filled in for Virginia Shipbuilding yard in WWI) Source: Library of Congress, Atlas of fifteen miles around Washington, including the counties of Fairfax and Alexandria, Virginia / compiled and published from actual surveys by G.M. Hopkins Washington may have expected Alexandria to benefit from an expected economic boom, as people moved to the new capital. However, public buildings such as the Capitol and White House were located north of the Potomac River. Alexandria County suffered, because neither Virginia nor DC would use public funds to develop the area. In 1856, after the retrocession of the Virginia portion of the District of Columbia, the Federal government built a lighthouse at Jones Point. The lighthouse keepers cabin was located adjacent to the stone marking the southern tip of the District, and both structures are still there today.

Jones Point lighthouse, prior to shoreline being altered to create land for a WWI shipbuilding yard (which converted Jones Point into a peninsula) Source: Library of Congress, Jones Point, Potomac River, near Alexandria, Virginia / surveyed for the Engineer Department, April 1863 Jones Point in 1864 Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Map of the Banks of the Potomac River from Alexandria to Fort Washington, 1864 One economic activity in Alexandria was the slave trade, including the Franklin & Armfield business located at 1315 Duke Street. In the Compromise of 1850, the US Congress banned slavery in the District of Columbia, which was under Federal control. Alexandria and Virginia officials recognized the handwriting on the wall. They agitated in the 1840's to return or "retrocede" the Virginia portion of the District (south of the Potomac River) to Virginia. After a vote on the issue in Alexandria, the territory was returned back to Virginia in 1847.

Had the retrocession not occurred prior to the banning of slavery in DC in 1850, the Federal Distict could have become a flash point for Virginia slaves trying to escape into the "free" North. Retrocession placed a psychological and physical barrier, the Potomac River, between free vs. slave territory. Alexandria County, which received minimal investment for construction of public buildings in the District of Columbia Source: Library of Congress, Plan of the city of Washington and territory of Columbia / engraved by W. & D. Lizars, Edin'r. Few Virginians realize that Alexandria was the state capital between 1863-65, at least according to the Federal government based in Washington, DC. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, Richmond became the capital of the Confederate Virginia - but the northern states remaining in the Union did not recognize the new Confederate government. Instead, a competing "Restored Government of Virginia" was created by the Union sympathizers in Virginia in 1861. Since the old location in Richmond was occupied by Confederate sympathizers, the Union side established the state capital of its version of Virginia in Wheeling, on the Ohio River.

That location was far from the slave-owning Tidewater counties, safe from Confederate attack, and easily accessible from the northern states. There was just one problem: West Virginia became a separate state in 1863, and Wheeling became the capital of the new state. Forty-eight counties now belonged to West Virginia, not Virginia. The governor of the Union version of Virginia, Francis Pierpont, had to leave Wheeling and move back to what remained of Virginia. After the creation of West Virginia in 1863, there were few locations available within the now-altered boundaries of Virginia for Union sympathizers to locate a capital of the Restored Government of Virginia. The Civil War was still being hotly contested, and it was not clear which side would win. Not all of the remaining territory of Virginia was controlled by Confederates, however. The Emancipation Proclamation listed the areas under Federal control, and thus "safe" for locating the Union version of Virginia state government until the Federal army captured Richmond. In Virginia, those Federally-controlled areas included the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, plus the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth.

1 The Eastern Shore was too far away for any government center. Hampton Roads was under military control of the Army, and the control of the military leaders would have limited the authority of any civilian state officials in the Norfolk area. So Governor Pierpont chose to locate the Restored Government in Alexandria, in the shadow of his political sponsors in Washington and in a community protected by a ring of Federal Army forts. Alexandria served as the state capital, with Pierpont operating out of his office at 415 Prince Street as the state governor, until the Union Army finally captured Richmond in April, 1865. At that point, the state government moved south again to the traditional capital, with the capitol building and the Governor's Mansion.

415 Prince Street, site of Governor's Pierpont's office (when Alexandria was the capital of "Restored" Virginia in 1863-65) Governor's Pierpont's wartime office in Alexandria (1863-65) is marked by a small plaque Alexandria was a major center for trading slaves prior to the Civil War Source: National Archives, Slave pen of Price, Birch and Co., Alexandria, Va during the Civil War, Union forces built a ring of forts around Alexandria to protect againt Confederate attacks Source: Frank Leslie's Illustrated History of the Civil War, Section of Fort Runyon, VA., Guarding the Road to Alexandria, Occupied By the Twenty-First Regiment,New York Volunteers, August, 1861 (p.243) Alexandria finally boomed again after World War I. As the Federal government expanded during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War, demand for housing increased. The Alexandria Water Company built Lake Barcroft to supply drinking water to the city in 1915, then switched to the new and larger Occoquan Reservoir in 1950.

Lake Barcroft and Alexandria, 1942 Source: Library of Congress, Esso pictorial guide to Washington, D.C., and vicinity : 1942. Gentrification finally converted most low-cost housing into expensive townhomes/condos between 1970 and 2000. That affected the character of the city, displacing minorities as different neighborhoods were redeveloped. The high costs to buy or rent in the Old Town area limit socio-economic diversity, and redevelopment plans extend all the way to Alexandria's western border. The Beauregard area, near the Mark Center on I-395, is an inside-the-Beltway suburb of 3-story apartments and townhomes offering 5,000 units of "workforce housing" with relatively low rents. Alexandria has approved a suburban renewal plan permitting development of seven new mixed-use neighborhoods. Half of the existing housing units will be removed, replaced by more-dense development that will generate greater income for the property owners and higher taxes for the city. To mitigate gentrification concerns, the developers have committed to provide 800 affordable housing units.

As noted by one land use specialist who also served on the city's planning commission: 2 "This is one of the largest inner suburban redevelopments in the United States," said Derek Hyra, an associate professor of urban affairs at Virginia Tech. "The inner suburb is the new frontier for upgrading and gentrification." redevelopment of Alexandria's Beauregard neighborhood (shown here before completion of the Mark Center) has triggered debate over the pattern of displacing poor and minorities (gentrification) Source: City of Alexandria, Beauregard Small Area Plan Boundary Map As real estate agents constantly repeat, value of property is determined by three things - location, location, and location. What makes Alexandria so attractive? It's not a center of manufacturing. It's not a high-tech community like Silicon Valley. It's a small city... but it's adjacent to Washington DC. Alexandria is ranked 4th in the nation (behind Washington, DC, New York, and Chicago) as the headquarters location for trade associations. 3 Alexandria offers a convenient commute to the Federal agencies via the George Washington Memorial Parkway or the Metro (both constructed primarily by funding from the Federal government).

The taxpayers and business leaders in Alexandria required a national commitment to build the I-495 interstate highway, a state commitment (with Federal contribution) to build the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge, and a regional commitment in order to build the Metrorail system - but the leaders of Alexandria have always made sure that the city had excellent transportation facilities. The benefits of a thriving city, linked to the rest of Virginia and in the shadow of the national capital, are reflected in Alexandria's sky-high property values. For example, the historic townhouse at 115 Prince Street is located on a tree-lined stretch of a road laid out in 1749. Today, the pavement on that block ("Captains Row" between Lee and Union streets) is still historic cobblestones rather than asphalt. The townhome at 115 Prince Street has a basement, which is possible because the edge of the Potomac River has been moved two blocks away as the land on the waterfront was expanded. What today is Union Street used to be part of the Potomac River. To move into Alexandria today, you have to be prepared to pay dearly for property.

The 2013 real estate taxes for that 3,200 square feet townhome on "Captains Row" were $23,000, based on Alexandria's property tax rate and the city's appraisal of property values: 4 Appraised Land Value: 115 Prince Street, located at the former edge of the Potomac River one block of Prince Street is still paved in cobblestones George Washington's 1749 survey of Alexandria shows the earlier edge of the Potomac River ("Water" is now "Lee" street, and 115 Prince Street is on Lot 56) Source: Library of Congress, A plan of Alexandria, now Belhaven Alexandria's plans to redevelop along the waterfront have been as controversial as the Beauregard Small Area Plan. The waterfront was an industrial zone until the 1950's, but today is a mix of parks, cultural sites, restaurants/retail, and high-cost housing. The most obvious example of the transformation is the Torpedo Factory at the foot of King Street, where artists exibit paintings, sculpture, weavings, etc. in a structure once used to manufacture torpedoes for US Navy submarines.

In 2012, after 150 public meetings during three years, the Alexandria City Council approved rezoning the waterfront to permit replacing two warehouses with hotels. Opponents preferred more museums and parkland rather than commercialization of the waterfront. The hotels will replace the Robinson Terminal warehouses, which formerly stored newsprint for the Washington Post. 5 Increasing public access to the river is a key part of the waterfront plan, but plans to develop a public pier and marina where King Street meets the edge of the Potomac River were delayed by a US Department of the Interior lawsuit. In 1973, the Federal government claimed that land in Alexandria located east of the historic 1791 shoreline was owned by the Federal government, and pressured 34 property owners to allow public access along the Potomac River in exchange for "quieting title" to those claims and resolving ownership. In 1983, the Federal government blocked a negotiated deal with the Old Dominion Boat Club, which owned a key half-acre lot on the shoreline at King Street.

The city would have purchased the land and the boat club would have relocated to other waterfront property at the base of Montgomery Streeet eight blocks away, but Federal officials objected to the development of a new bothouse and marina. The boat club won a court case in 2008 and then the appeal in 2011; the government claim of ownership was flatly rejected. Old Dominion Boat Club parking lot on edge of the Potomac River in 2013 Alexandria then chose to threaten condemnation of the land occupied by the Old Dominon Boat Club, including the club's waterfront parking lot surrounded by a chain link fence. In 2014, a deal was finally settled. Alexandria purchased the 0.5 acre lot for $5 million. It will relocate the Old Dominion Boat Club to the city-owned Beachcomber's Building one block away at the end of Prince Street, and a new marina will be created there. A public plaza, Fitzgerald Square, will be constructed at the boat club's old location on King Street and a continuous public trail will run along the shoreline.

6 the 1983 deal to move the Old Town Boat Club from its location on King Street (1) to Montgomery Street (2) was blocked by the Federal government, but in 2014 Alexandria succeeeded in negotiating relocation to Prince Street (3) Source: The Photographic History of the Civil War, Marshall House, Alexandria, Virginia, 1861 (p.351) Colonel Ellsworth led the New York Fire Zouaves into the Marshall House to remove the Confederate flag on the roof that was visible from Washington DC Source: Some Old Historic Landmarks of Virginia and Maryland, Marshall House (p.15) References 1. "Emancipation Proclamation, issued January 1, 1863, National Archives and Records Administration, (last checked September 1, 2014) 2. "Alexandria�s Beauregard area faces housing, development decisions," Washington Post, May 5, 2012, ; "Redevelopment looms in west Alexandria," Washington Post, April 12, 2013, (last checked October 6, 2013) 3.

"Alexandria, VA Business Overview," Livability, January 15, 2013, (last checked October 6, 2013) 4. "Detailed Property Description - 115 Prince Street," City of Alexandria, (last checked October 6, 2013) 5. "Alexandria Council approves waterfront plan; number of hotels reduced," Washington Post, January 21, 2012, (last checked October 6, 2013) 6. "After Old Dominion boat club holds firm, changes made to Alexandria waterfront plan," Washington Post, April 22, 2011, ; "Historic Boat Club Triumphs over Feds, Ending Decades in Court," Local Kicks, January 19,2011, ; "Old Dominion Boat Club to sell clubhouse and parking lot to Alexandria for $5 million," Washington Post, March 24, 2014, ; "Alexandria Postpones Boat Club Land Swap; Official Says U.S.

Objection Killed Plan," Washington Post, April 10, 1985, (last checked September 3, 2014) downtown Alexandria (before new Woodrow Wilson Bridge was built)

Question: Which capital city is on the banks of the Potomac River?
Answer: WASHINGTON D.C.