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PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND TERRITORIES
#40 - DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Size: 3" x 5"
Copyrighted: 1892
Lithographer: Donaldson Bros.
Reverse -
Text
Left
section: GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section:
| DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA. |
| THE district was bought
of the Indians by an Englishman
named Francis Pope, who settled
here in 1663. During the
Revolution the Continental
Congress moved from town to town
to avoid the British armies.
After the war several States
claimed the seat of government to
be established, as defined by the
Constitution, not to exceed ten
miles square, and to remain under
the exclusive legislation of
Congress. In 1788-89 Maryland and
Virginia each offered such
districts, and Congress in 1790
accepted, specifying the present
location. The magnificent system
of avenues was planned by Major
L'Enfant and laid out by Surveyor
Andrew Ellicott. In 1791 the new
public domain received the
official title of District of
Columbia and the Federal City
became the City of Washington. In
1800 the public archives were
transferred in a sloop from
Philadelphia, and Congress held
its first session here. In 1814 a
British army of 4,500 men routed
the American Militia at
Bladensburg and occupied
Washington, destroying the public
buildings. The city was menaced
by the Confederate troops at the
outbreak of the Civil War until
the night of May 23d, 1861, when
Wood, Heintzelman, and Ellsworth
crossed the Potomac and defended
the city. The Capitol was saved
from further assault after the
various reverses of the Federal
Army in Virginia, by sixty-eight
forts and miles of rifle-pits. |
| ILLUSTRATIONS. |
| The
Capitol; The White House; George
Washington |
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