The District of Columbia was created to serve as the permanent national capital in 1790. Within the district, a new capital city was founded in 1791 to the east of an existing settlement at Georgetown. The original street … See more

Interstate highways
Interstate 495, also known as the "Capital Beltway", creates an artificial boundary for the inner suburbs of Washington and is the root of the phrase "inside the Beltway". Almost completely circling Washington, D.C., it crosses a … See more

• Ovason, David (2002). The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capital: The Masons and the building of Washington, D.C. New … See more

During most of the 19th century, each municipality within the federal district maintained its own separate government and street system. With the passage of the Organic Act of 1871, Congress created a new government for the entire federal district. This act … See more

The city's addressing system is best understood in terms of a Cartesian coordinate system with its origin at the Capitol. While the system may appear complex, once learned it allows one to pinpoint not only where one is but also where and how far … See more

• U.S. Roads portal
• History of Washington, D.C.
• List of circles in Washington, D.C.
• List of state-named roadways in Washington, D.C.
• Architecture of Washington, D.C. See more