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Creating Washington, D.C..

Map of L'Enfant's plan

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Creating Washington, D.C.. Compared to other capital cities across the world, Washington, D.C. was constructed relatively recently, with the city being founded in 1790. As the city was being built, the nation itself was also building its identity. Along with the formation of a national identity, the newly established government was navigating its role and the scope of that role. Unlike other cities, such as Paris and London, Washington, D.C. was a blank slate—there were few settlers living there as construction began and the land was virtually untouched before the city was built. With this blank slate, Washington, D.C. truly reflects the desires and goals of early leaders, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Explore the process of constructing our capital, from the government schemes to acquire the land needed to build the city to its design and style, while examining questions of the power and legitimacy of the new republican government. Background image from The Commission of Fine Arts.