U.S. Government > The Nation's Capital Introduction | The Constitution | The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch | The Judicial Branch | State Government | Local Government Political Parties | Elections | The Nation's Capital | The Flag | The National Anthem The Great Seal | The Pledge of Allegiance

What kind of information materials are available?

District of Columbia Background · City Beautiful: The 1901 Plan for Washington D.C. · Council of the District of Columbia · Explore Washington D.C.: Gateway to America's Capital · The Mall: The Grand Avenue, the Government and the People · Map of Washington D.C CD · National Mall and Memorial Parks (National Park Service) · The U.S. Capitol (Architect of the Capitol) · Washington D.C. (The Columbia Encyclopedia) · Washington, D.C. (The American Experience) · Washington D.C. (Magazin USA) Deutsch · Washington D.C.: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary · Washington: The Nation's Capital: Historical Timeline CD · Welcome to the DC Chamber of Commerce Statistics · Facts and Figures: Anniversary of Washington, D.C., as Nation's Capital (U.S. Census Bureau) CD · District of Columbia Quick Facts (U.S. Census Bureau)   New York City was the first capital of the United States once the Constitution was ratified. George Washington took the oath of office to become the first President of the United States from the balcony of the old City Hall. One of the issues the President had to deal with was a permanent location for the country’s seat of government. As part of a compromise, it was decided that the capital would move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1791 for ten years and then to a suitable permanent location on the Potomac River. Washington chose an area that included land from the states of Maryland and Virginia. At this time the area was primarily farm and marsh lands. Congress was scheduled to meet in the new capital on the first Monday in December 1800. Pierre Charles L’Enfant was hired to design the "Federal City." On June 11, 1800, the capital of the United States had a permanent home in Washington, D.C. See also: About the USA > Travel & Geography > The States & Territories > Washington D. C.

Exhibits - Digital Images · American Treasures of the Library of Congress: The Nation's Capital · Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol of a New Nation · U.S. Capitol Historical Society For High School Students · America's Story for America's Library: Washington DC (Library of Congress) · Ben's Guide to Government Buildings: The Supreme Court Building · Ben's Guide to Statues and Memorials: The Washington Monument · Washington D.C. (Internet Public Library)   Teacher Resources · America's Story for America's Library: Washington DC (Library of Congress) · George Washington: The Living Symbol (Edsitement) · A Landmark Lesson: The United States Capitol Building (Edsitement) Link List · Internet Public Library: Washington D.C. · Cultural Tourism D.C. · District of Columbia Government Sites · House of Representatives: Visiting DC · House of Representatives: Washington D.C. - Tourist Information · Washington Post: Washington DC Visitor's Guide · Washington DC Web Site Directory · U.S. Senate: Online Visitors Center · Yahoo! > Travel > Washington D.C. · Yahoo! > Directory > Washington D.C.

Texts are abridged from U.S. State Department IIP publications and other U.S. government materials.

What kind of information materials are available? CD: These documents are available in fulltext format on the About the USA CD-ROM. Teachers: Request a copy for classroom use. L: Selected documents are available in German as well as other languages, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Persian and Turkish.

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U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Germany /Public Affairs/ Information Resource Centers  Updated: February 2009