Washington D.C. Skylines

As the capital of the United States, Washington D.C. is home to the buildings, monuments and trappings of government. The Washington D.C. skyline reflects the heritage of a great country and a great people. Every year, millions of visitors come to Washington seeking out well known and even somewhat obscure bits of American history.

Commonly called Washington, the District of Columbia is home to almost 600,000 people. The area that comprises the greater metropolitan area has over 5 million residents, making it one of the most densely populated areas in America. As home to foreign embassies and many international organizations, the District of Columbia is an international city in the truest sense. The skyline of Washington D.C. is one of the most photographed and most recognizable in the world. Pictures and panoramas of this international capital grace homes and offices all over the world.

The Washington D.C. Skyline

The Washington area is steeped in history and an important part of this history is the architecture. The buildings and monuments of Washington both famous and obscure, feature classic examples of neoclassical, Georgian, Gothic, Victorian and Federalist architectural styles. Other notable styles seen in the Capital include Chateauesque, modern and Queen Ann designs.

The Washington Monument

This towering obelisk was built to honor America's first President George Washington. The Washington Monument is the tallest structure in the District. Located on the National Mall, the monument stands at one end with the Lincoln Memorial at the other. Standing over 550 feet tall, the Washington Monument was constructed of granite, sandstone and marble. Started in 1848, the color of the obelisk varies from top to bottom, the result of a halt in construction during the American Civil War. The Monument was completed in 1884 though the idea for such a commemorative dates back to before Washington's death in 1799.

This monument to the Father of America attracts visitors from all over the world. The beautiful lighting effects makes the Washington Monument a prominent part of the Washington D.C. skyline.

The United States Capital

Designed in 1793, the United States Capital Building is a wonderful example of American Neoclassical architecture. Sitting on a 270 acre site, the Capital is one of the recognizable buildings in the world and a prominent fixture of the Washington D.C. skyline. Situated on over 240 acres the Capital's most recognizable feature is the dome which when lighted at night, shines bright along the skyline. While not the tallest structure in along the Washington D.C. Skyline, the Capital Building stands over 280 feet.

Other Famous Monuments and Memorials

Among other famous structures in Washington D.C. are the numerous monuments and commemoratives that honor past presidents and veterans of the nation's military conflicts. From the Jefferson Memorial on the banks of the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery, visitors are treated to a walk through history.

Historic Washington D.C.

Founded in July of 1790, the capital of the Unites States was not always in Washington D.C. In fact, three different cities have shared the honor of U.S. capital between 1776 and 1790. Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York City served as the home of the fledgling government with Philadelphia having been the capital twice. The District of Columbia was created in accordance with Article One of the United States Constitution.

Article One called for the creation of a federal district that would serve as permanent home to the nation's capital. The city of Washington was part of what was once called the Territory of Columbia. Located along the Potomac River, Congress merged the city and the territory into a homogeneous district. Governed directly by the United States Congress, the District of Columbia has local governance with a mayor and city council apparatus but does not have a voting representative in Congress.

In spite of nicknames such as Foggy Bottom and the Swamp, most of Washington D.C. is actually hundreds of feet above sea level. Of course, anyone who has visited the District during the summer months may disagree. The summer climate is hot and quite humid, driving many people out of the district in search of more moderate climes. The custom of a summer time Congressional recess has more to do with agrarian history than the humidity in Washington. Early members of Congress were citizen legislators and many were farmers. Summertime was planting time and members of Congress would return home for planting season.

The District was platted by a French architect and the street layout can be difficult for some visitors to navigate. Not pegged to true like many cities, Washington is a study of geometry with four main districts, northwest, southeast, northeast and southwest.