“Washington, D.C. residents consume more wine per capita than residents of any other state in America.” Via VOX
America’s founding fathers intended D.C. to be a city that could compete, in grandeur and beauty, with the capitals of Europe. But when construction began in the 1790s, it wasn’t an auspicious start: most of the land D.C. was to be built on was swampland, and during the war of 1812, marauding British soldiers burnt down the few buildings that had been stood up. Things have markedly improved for D.C. since. Today it can still be fun to traipse through D.C.’s flagship attractions – like the Smithsonian and Lincoln Memorial. But exploring the nooks and crannies of the city – the artsy neighborhoods around DuPont Circle, or the bohemian Adams Morgan – will give you a better sense of the daily life of D.C.
There are a couple facts you’ll want to know abut Washington DC:
* D.C.’s population is 563,384. There are more people in D.C. than there are in Wyoming.
* Washington, D.C. residents consume more wine per capita than residents of any other state in America.
* The term “lobbyist” was originated by President Ulysses Grant, who disliked the special interest representatives who would congregate in the lobby of D.C.’s Willard Hotel.
* Washington D.C.’s original name was “Federal City.”
* D.C. is divided up into quadrants according to compass directions: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. If you try to find your way to an address without knowing which quadrant it’s in, you’ll likely get lost.
* The National Gallery in D.C. houses the only painting by Leonardo Da Vinci in America.
