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Washington DCINTRODUCTION Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) is the capital of the United States of America and therefore the city is packed full of amazing American, history, culture and politics. Officially the District of Columbia is a federal district combined with the city of Washington. The duo is located between Maryland and Virginia, but is apart of neither state. As a city it is officially governed by the U.S. Congress, but the Congress allows the city to be run by a municipal government. The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. This is because the city is full of some of the finest and most interesting museums, architecture, and government structures in the world. HISTORY The District of Columbia was founded on July 16, 1790 by combining then areas of Maryland and Virginia. It was named Columbia, because that was a poetic name used to refer to the United States. The District of Columbia was a planned city and initially combined four sections; one was Washington City, which was named after America’s first President, George Washington. The original White House and much of D.C. were burned down by the British in 1814, during the war of 1812. In 1864 the Confederate Army made a brief raid into the city, but the city has never completely fallen into opposition hands. During the 20th century the capital was host to several riots and marches concerning Civil Rights and War protests, usually on the National Mall. This tradition continues to this day. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The trick to doing D.C. is in the planning. There is no way to see and do everything in a week or even two weeks. The museums are free, for the most part, but you have to get tickets early and go back at a scheduled time. The best thing to do is pick the museums that are must-sees for your group. Many of the things you want to see and do are right there on the Mall, or within walking distance. The great thing about getting around in D.C., are the trains - you can take the red, blue, and yellow lines to virtually all the landmarks in the city, as well as the surrounding cities, like Baltimore and New York. While most of the museums are free, parking is not. Finding parking for an extended period, specifically around the National Mall, is a challenge and is not recommended. Metered spots are available, but most have a two hour limit. If you must rent a car, there are some parking lots available, but they do not accommodate larger vehicles and can run upwards of $15 a day. ATTRACTIONS The White House LODGING PERSONAL STORIES 
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