Images of America: D.C. Series

The fort, located at the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, has played a vital role in American history since its establishment in 1791. Initially designated as a military reservation by Pierre L'Enfant, it has served various functions, including an arsenal, penitentiary, and hospital. Renamed in 1948 in honor of Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, it has witnessed significant events such as the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Today, it operates as the National Defense University and the headquarters of the Military District of Washington.

The area now known as Georgetown was once a central meeting place for nearly 40 Native American tribes situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Potomac River. It was inevitable that the very rivers that served these native people would attract the first European settlers to the region, settlers who established Georgetown as a bustling port and key commercial center. In 1791, George Washington fixed the small community's enduring importance by including it in the plans for the new Federal City. Taking you down cobblestone streets, Historic Georgetown: A Walking Tour includes local sites associated with such historic figures as John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, Alexander Graham Bell, Francis Scott Key, and Victorian novelist E.D.E.N. Southworth. Enjoy the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century charms of Georgetown's architecture as you visit private homes, businesses, and social establishments. Climb the stairs on which the climatic scene of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist took place!