On July 16, 1790, as outlined in the United States Constitution, America?s founding fathers declared Washington, D.C. its nation?s capital. The east coast site was selected in part for the convenience of the Potomac River, which then included two port towns vital to the tobacco and wheat trade industries, and as a compromise between the northern and southern states. Since its conception, the District of Columbia has been the hub of political upheaval, racism, war, power struggles, national identity crises and more. It wasn?t until the early 1900s that DC became a fully developed monumental city, with plans to erect the numerous memorials and tributes that are evident today. Slightly fewer than 600,000 people actually reside in The District, though the population swells with nearly 15 million travelers annually to visit such attractions as the Washington Monument, Smithsonian?s National Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Memorial, reflecting pool, FDR Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Other fascinating hot spots include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, the National Archives, and of course, the White House. In addition, the metropolis is home to numerous restaurants serving cuisine from countless nationalities, more than 40 performing arts and theater venues and four professional sporting venues.
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