The Early History of Washington, D.C.

Have you ever wondered how the capital of the United States came to be situated at Washington, D.C.?

The banks of the Potomac River represent an odd place to build a national city, a place that would not only serve as the seat of government for the nation, but also as an economic, cultural, and intellectual hub. Still in 1790, the United States Congress passed the Residence Act and mandated that it would establish a new, permanent capital along the banks of the Potomac River. Why?

In this episode of Ben Franklin’s World: A Podcast About Early American History Adam Costanzo, a Professional Assistant Professor of History at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi and author of George Washington’s Washington: Visions for the National Capital in the Early American Republic (University of Georgia Press, 2018), joins us to consider questions of the National capital’s location and construction.

You can listen to the podcast here: www.benfranklinsworld.com/222

Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world. Each episode features an interview with an historian who shares their unique insights into our early American past. It is a production of the Omohundro Institute.