Today In History
5 Fun Facts About April 9 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War. While this event did not take place in the District of Columbia, it had a significant impact on the city as it marked the beginning of the end of the...
5 Fun Facts About April 8 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1795, the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building was laid on April 8th. The building, which took over 30 years to complete, is a symbol of American democracy and the seat of the United States Congress. 2. On April 8th, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the District...
5 Fun Facts About April 7 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1788, the first U.S. Congress authorized the creation of a district on the Potomac River for the purpose of serving as the nation’s capital. This became the District of Columbia. 2. In 1862, the Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee during the American Civil War. Union forces under...
5 Fun Facts About April 6 In District Of Columbia History
1) In 1830, the first edition of the "National Intelligencer" newspaper was published in the District of Columbia. This paper would go on to be an influential voice in national politics for several decades. 2) On April 6, 1862, the Confederate Army launched a surprise attack on Union forces in...
5 Fun Facts About April 5 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1859, the Washington Monument was completed. Construction on this historic obelisk began in 1848, but was delayed due to funding problems and the Civil War. It stands at over 555 feet tall and is made of marble, granite, and sandstone. 2. In 1949, the National Archives building was...
5 Fun Facts About April 4 In District Of Columbia History
1. On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. The news of King's death sparked riots in Washington, D.C. and cities across the country. 2. In 1850, the United States Congress passed the Compromise of 1850, which included legislation allowing slavery in...
5 Fun Facts About April 3 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1939, the Jefferson Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. The memorial was built to honor Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. 2. In 1860, the Pony Express began its first run from St. Joseph, Missouri, to...
5 Fun Facts About April 2 In District Of Columbia History
1. On April 2, 1792, President George Washington signed the Postal Service Act which established the U.S. Post Office Department, making it the longest continually operating federal agency in United States history. 2. The National Cherry Blossom Festival officially began on April 2, 1935. The festival celebrates the gift of...
5 Fun Facts About April 1 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1802, the District of Columbia was officially incorporated as a city. April 1st marked the beginning of a new government, with Thomas Jefferson appointing Benjamin B. French as the first mayor of the city. 2. On April 1, 1862, during the American Civil War, the Confederate Army under...
5 Fun Facts About March 31 In District Of Columbia History
1. In 1802, the District of Columbia officially became the city of Washington, D.C., as a result of the Organic Act of 1801. 2. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed approximately 3,100 enslaved individuals in the District of Columbia. 3. In 1871, the District...
5 Fun Facts About March 30 In District Of Columbia History
Here are five interesting facts about March 30 in District of Columbia History: 1. In 1870, the 15th amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, which stated that citizens could not be denied the right to vote based on their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. This was a...
5 Fun Facts About March 29 In District Of Columbia History
Here are 5 interesting facts about March 29 in District Of Columbia history: 1. In 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act, which established Washington D.C. as the site of the new capital city. This decision paved the way for D.C. to become a center of government and politics. 2. In...