Washington, D.C.

Some of the key events about Washington, D.C.

• 1790

  The site for the new national capital was selected along the Potomac River
• 1800

  The federal government officially moved to Washington, D.C.
• 1814

  The rebuilding of the White House and Capitol began after their destruction in the War of 1812
• 1814

  The British burned and destroyed many public buildings in Washington during the War of 1812
• 1835

  A failed assassination attempt on President Andrew Jackson occurred at the U.S. Capitol
• 1846

  The Smithsonian Institution was established as a center for scientific research and education
• 1862

  Slavery was abolished in the District of Columbia, nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation
• 1865

  President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre
• 1881

  President James Garfield was shot at a Washington train station, later dying from his wounds
• 1901

  The Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building opened, becoming the largest library in the world
• 1901

  President William McKinley was assassinated, though the shooting occurred in Buffalo, New York
• 1919

  A series of anarchist bombings targeted prominent officials and buildings in Washington
• 1922

  The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated, becoming an iconic symbol of American democracy
• 1935

  The National Archives Building was completed to house the nation's most important documents
• 1954

  Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire in the U.S. House of Representatives, wounding five congressmen
• 1963

  The historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place at the National Mall
• 1968

  Riots broke out in the city following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
• 1977

  Twelve Hanafi Muslims seized three buildings in Washington, taking nearly 150 hostages
• 2001

  The Pentagon was attacked as part of the September 11 terrorist attacks
• 2016

  The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened on the National Mall

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.