Washington: the capital of the United States of America

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The city of Washington is the capital of the United States of America. The city is located in the eastern part of the country, not far from the Atlantic ocean coast. Washington stands along the left bank of the Potomac River in an area of territory that belonged to the states of Virginia and Maryland. In 1790 its foundation was decided as the new capital of the United States. The territory of the city then became the District of Columbia, an autonomous entity under the jurisdiction of the federal government.

The city was designed by French-born town planner Pierre-Charles L’Enfant. He designed it by focusing primarily on the White House, the residence of the President of the United States, and on the Capitol, the seat of Congress. These two buildings stand on low hills and were joined together by two road axes: the Washington Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue. The first president to settle in Washington was John Adams in 1800. The construction of the new city however continued slowly and only at the beginning of the twentieth century were the urbanization works of the city completed.

THE SYMBOL BUILDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES

The most famous building in the city is undoubtedly the White House. That is, the residence of the President of the United States of America. The building, in neoclassical style, was started in 1792 on a project by J. Hoben and B. H. Latrobe.

Another iconic building in Washington is the Capitol, home to Congress. This building is also in neoclassical style and was built between 1793 and 1830 on a project by W. Thornton. Close to the Capitol stands the famous Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Building. The Washington Memorial is therefore a 170-meter-high marble obelisk facing the Capitol and offering a beautiful view of the city.

The lively and cosmopolitan city is made up of large boulevards and a vast vastness of parks and green areas. Among the neighborhoods, the most characteristic is the colonial-style residential district of Georgetown where the elite citizen lives.

MUSEUMS

Washington is home to major American museums and cultural institutes. Along the Washington Mall are numerous museums and art galleries. Among these we find the National Museum of History and Tecnology dedicated to the technological development of the United States. The National Museum of History is dedicated to natural sciences. Of particular importance for the collection of paintings, sculptures and prints is above all the National Gallery of Art. A museum dedicated to planes and space conquests is the National Air and Space Museum.

In the city there are numerous memorials dedicated to American presidents, in addition to the aforementioned Washington Memorial. The most important are the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. They are all neoclassical buildings. Washington is also home to the vast Pentagon building, home to the Ministry of Defense.

HOW TO GET

The city’s main airport is Dulles International Airport (IAD) which is located approximately 40km west of the city center. Washington Airport is well connected to all major airports in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America.

The climate of Washington: when to go.