1608
John Smith is the first European to explore the area
1749
The town of Alexandria is founded
1751
The town of Georgetown is founded
1790
A site is chosen for a capital
1791
Pierre L'Enfant draws up plans for the new capital
1800
The US government moved to Washington
1802
Robert Brent becomes the first mayor of Washington
1814
The British burn many of the buildings in Washington
1829
James Smithson leaves books and minerals
1835
Washington is connected to Baltimore by railroad. The Snow Riot takes place
1862
Slavery is abolished in the district of Columbia
1865
Lincoln is assassinated in Washington
1867
Howard University is founded
1870
The population of Washington reaches 130,000
1871
A board of public works is appointed
1884
Washington Monument is completed
1901
The McMillan Plan is drawn up for Washington
1908
Union Station is built
1919
Race riots take place
1922
The Lincoln Memorial is built
1923
Freer Art Gallery opens
1935
The Supreme Court is built
1937
The Federal Reserve Building
1941
The National Gallery of Art opens
1943
The Pentagon is built
1963
Martin Luther King makes a famous speech in Washington
1971
The Kennedy Center opens
1974
The Hirshhorn Museum opens
1976
The Metrorail System opens. The National Air and Space Museum opens
1993
The US Holocaust Museum opens. The National Postal Museum opens
1997
The FDR Memorial opens
2002
The International Spy Museum opens
2004
The National WWII Memorial opens