Great thread. I lived around D.C. from '73 until literally 9/11, when I came down south to the James River to live permanently.
Anyway, one small nitpicking point (which as a history major I can't let go by): When people in the 18th- Century referred to D.C. as being built in a swamp, the word had a different connotation. Not only did it refer to a wetland swamp like we think of today, it also referred to land that was densely overgrown with brambles and thistles; basically, land that wasn't good for farming. Some of the land, of course, was already developed (Alexandria, VA, and Georgetown, MD were the inhabited sections donated to create the city; the undeveloped tract given by Maryland, the Federal city where the Capitol, White House, Supreme Court, etc. are, was the area referred to as a swamp, but it wasn't wetlands the way we think of a swamp today. George Washington was far too great of a surveyor and judge of land to allow a city to be built on such land. So, early on, we had Alexandria, D.C., Georgetown, D.C., and the new federal city, Washington, D.C. Eventually, it all came to be known as the latter after Alexandria retroceded back to Virginia in the 1840's (which is the reason D.C. looks like a diamond with the southwest side missing).
And contrary to popular belief, G.W. did not push to have the city built near his home; it wouldn't have made sense because he never planned on serving as long as he did. It was a compromise between northern and southern congressmen during the state debt assumption crisis of 1790-91: The southern states didn't have as much debt from the Revolution and afterwards, so they didn't want the Federal government using tax money to pay off what they perceived as mostly northern debt, so in exchange for that happening, the capital city (with its expected wealth and power) was located south of the Mason Dixon line.
So, one small point later, my fingers are worn out and I'm in need of spending a day or two at the National Archives for my history fix.
Wow, that's very intersting. Thanks for the contribution!
I do know that DC was built on a swamp. I have a friend who *swears* it was so Congress would be forced to recess in the summer.
So, one small point later, my fingers are worn out and I'm in need of spending a day or two at the National Archives for my history fix. Speaking of which, The National Archives website has this information regarding its reopening after two long years of renovations/restoration...
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The Rotunda Reopens September 18 2003  Mark your calendars and celebrate history in the making!
Schedule of Events On September 18, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights (collectively known as the Charters of Freedom), will be back on public display for the first time since July 4, 2001. For the first time all four pages of the Constitution will be on continuous display. The rededicated hall will contain fourteen new document cases tracing the story of the creation of the Charters and the continuing impact of these fundamental documents on the nation and the world. The new encasements will make the Charters more accessible for younger visitors and those using wheelchairs. The murals of the signers of the Charters, painted by artist Barry Faulkner, have also been restored. Join us as we open the doors to the newly renovated Rotunda with exciting family activities and entertainment for all ages. We will celebrate the reopening with three days of extended hours for your convenience. Opening Weekend Hours:
| September 18th (Thursday) - September 20th (Saturday) |
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10:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. (midnight) |
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September 21st (Sunday) |
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10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
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U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408 • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272 |
And thank you for the history lesson, HenryLeeII!
Thank you for the info.
I just wanted to thank you AGAIN for the history lesson. It was very interesting. I always wondered, actually, about the use of the word "swamp" in this context.
