Washington DC Timeline History

The United States Capitol after the burning of Washington in the War of 1812. Watercolor and ink depiction from 1814 Home USA States Washington DC Timeline History Washington DC is not a state, but a federal district as specified by Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution 1600: Piscataway American Indians live in area 1790: A bill passes to locate a new capital along the Potomac River. George Washington picks the site 1791: French architect Major Pierre-Charles L'Enfant submits his design 1793: Cornerstone of the capital building laid by George Washington 1800: The federal government officially moves to Washington, D.C. 1812: British burn the city during the War of 1812 1824: The Marquis de Lafayette is the first foreign dignitary to address the congress 1862: Slavery is abolished in Washington, D.C. 1865: President Abraham Lincoln assassinated 1881: President James Garfield dies, the victim of an assassination in a Washington rail station 1888: Washington Monument opens 1914: The Lincoln Memorial is completed 1943: Jefferson Memorial is completed 1953: The complete restoration of the While House is finished 1973: Washingtonians are given the right to vote for their mayor and city council 1990: Washington Mayor Marion Barry received jail sentence for cocaine possession 1992: House approves statehood for D.C., but Senate does not 2001: Terrorist attack the Pentagon Try Amazon Prime Video For Free