Top Facts About Washington DC, Capital of United States

Washington D.C. is surrounded on the west by the Potomac River, which is a fraction of D.C. from Virginia. The Anacostia River flows through its eastern border. D.C. comprises various islands in the Potomac, including Theodore Roosevelt Island, with a number of eye-catching walking trails and is frequently visited by locals.

You might guess that the “Washington” from Washington, D.C., was named after the 1st president of the United States, George Washington. But what do you think of its initials? They stand for the District of Columbia, called after Christopher Columbus.

Read More: https://thetopfacts.com/top-10-unbelievable-facts-you-will-ever-hear/. 

Whether it’s your first or seventh time at the United States’ memorizable capital, there’s sure to be a historical landmark or monument you’ve never explored before. From the underrated but equally appealing Titanic Memorial to all the crannies and nooks standing by to be discovered during a Capitol building tour—there’s much to look at and do.

But did you hear that underneath all those wonderfully crafted national monuments and lawns lies an exclusive city of underground tunnels? 

Around 15,000 staff members of the capitol have access to these tunnels so they can conveniently travel around Capitol Hill. The tunnels even equip their very own subway system and mark a few underground bodegas for quick afternoon snacks.

We’ve done the research for you and are here to share certain top facts about Washington DC, the Capital of the United States you’ve probably never caught. Nevertheless, we hope you will like reading it as much as we did formulate it:

Marble Bathtubs are there in the Capitol Building

Apparently, the Capitol building probably seems like a formal site where members of Congress work to establish new legislation. While that is verified now, it wasn’t always the case. In 1859, laborers installed six tubs in the basement of the senate wing. Although it may sound freakish to have tubs in an official building, it made complete sense then.

At that time, senate members often lived in residences that didn’t have running water. So, in order to prevent unpleasant body odors from imparting an exclusive smell to the Capitol building, we installed marble tubs for senator use.

There’s an Amazing Family Theater in the White House

Another Top Fact about Washington DC is that the White House comprises 132 rooms, so it was only a question of time before one of those spacious rooms became a theater for the president and his family to enjoy. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt transformed a coat room into what is now famous as the Family Theater.

In the years since, this 42-seat theater entertained presidents, their families, and their guests with innumerable films. Here are a few other significant facts about the White House’s Family Theater:

• In 2004, First Lady Laura Bush renovated the theater to give it a more attractive outlook. She chose radiant red walls with gold molding and red carpeting to achieve a classic and distinguished aesthetic.
• President Jimmy Carter enjoyed approximately 480 movies in the theater room, honored for watching the maximum number of movies there during his time in office.
• In 2010, President Barack Obama resorted to the theater room to watch the WWII series, The Pacific, with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and members of Congress. 

Also, Read https://thetopfacts.com/top-facts-about-london-capital-of-united-kingdom/. 

Alligator as a Pet is Kept by President Of Washington DC

An alligator surely isn’t what first comes to mind when you think of a “pet.” But in 1825, during John Quincy Adams’ presidency, the French revolutionary Marquis de Lafayette gifted President Adams a rather unique pet—an alligator.

According to legend, Adams kept the alligator in the tub of a half-done bathroom. On ceremonies, he would take modest guests to the bathroom and shock them with a glimpse of the alligator.

There have been a few other remarkable animals behind the walls of the White House over the years, as well, including:

• President Jackson’s pet parrot, rumored to have mastered some of the president’s more vibrant vocabulary, was said to be the case.
• The Sultan of Oman presented two tiger cubs to President Van Buren. Although Van Buren was in love with cubs and desired to keep them in the White House, representatives of Congress proclaimed that they were gifts to the United States, not the President personally. Finally, congress won their case, and they shifted the tigers to a zoo in Washington, DC, for the public to enjoy.

The White House Wasn’t Eternally “The White House”

If you refer to the White House to almost anyone, they’ll likely visualize the massive and dazzling white Palladian mansion where the president and his family reside. But the premises didn’t always hold that title. Till 1901, everyone referred to it as one of the following:

• The President’s House
• The President’s Palace
• The Executive Mansion

During the era of  President Theodore Roosevelt, he officially altered its label to the one we’re all familiar with the “White House.”

Honored To Have The Largest Library In The World

The Library of Congress was established in 1800, and has grown its collection drastically in the past 200 years. Today, it possesses more than 173 million items, including

• Books
• Photographs
• Drawings
• Films
• Manuscripts
• Video and audio recordings

Washington, DC is Home to the World’s Largest Obelisk

A four-sided monument with a wonderful pyramid-shaped top is an Obelisk. In Egyptian times, people would assemble them to honor and celebrate their rulers. Situated in the middle of the nation’s capital is the obelisk we all know informally as the Washington Monument. The nation’s first commander-in-chief, George Washington, created it as a tribute. At its finalization in 1884, it was the tallest structure in the world.

Now, all 555 feet and 5 and 1/8th inches honor it as the tallest obelisk on the globe.

You Can Find the Oldest Fish Market in the Country in Washington DC

You might already have visited various farmers’ markets in Washington DC but have you been to the oldest fish market in DC? A top fact about Washington DC is the old fish market which is located between the National Mall and the Potomac River, the Municipal Fish Market at the Wharf has been in functioning for over 200 years. Established in 1805, it accommodates a variety of seafood and generates vendors, bait and tackle shops, and lumber distributors. Wharf comprises freshly caught seafood including:

• Fish of all kinds
• Oysters
• Crabs
• Lobsters
• Shrimp And more

President Washington DC Never Resides in the White House

While the first president of the United States passed the blueprints and looked after the construction of the White House, he never surprisingly lived there. To date, George Washington is the sole president to never reside in the White House.

Read More at https://thetopfacts.com/10-most-beautiful-capitals-in-the-world/.