US Postage Stamps // Philatelic Project // The Federal States

           

District of Columbia // Middle Atlantic Region // Eastern Time
The nation's federal district was created on July 16, 1790
with land donations from Maryland and Virginia,
which included the preexisting settlements of
Georgetown, MD, and Alexandria, VA.
By an act of the US Congress on July 9, 1846 the area south
of the Potomac River was returned to Virginia effective in 1847.
The Federal District is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the
US Congress and is therefore not part of any US Federal State.
Washington, DC
The national capital of the United States of America was established on July 16, 1790.
On June 11, 1800, Washington, DC, became the permanent capital of the USA.
The US Congress held its first session in Washington, DC, on November 17, 1800.
[View related maps]

#4283 // September 2, 2008
(self-adhesive coil definitive)
Flags of Our Nation Series
District of Columbia Flag
and blooming cherry trees
#989 // April 20, 1950
National Capital
Washington, DC
Sesquicentennial
Statue of Liberty atop
the Dome of the Capitol
#990 // June 12, 1950
National Capital
Washington, DC
Sesquicentennial
Executive Mansion
White House
#991 // August 2, 1950
National Capital Washington, DC
Sesquicentennial

US Supreme Court Building
#992 // November 22, 1950
National Capital Washington, DC
Sesquicentennial

US Capitol Building

#1440 // October 29, 1971 // San Diego, CA
(ex block of four different stamps)
Historic Preservation Issue

Decatur House
Historic home in Washington, DC, named after its first owner US naval commander and hero Stephen Decatur (* 1779, † 1820). The house was designed by neoclassical architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe (* 1764, † 1820) and completed in 1818.

#3445 // Oktober 18, 2000 // Washington, DC
The White House
Bicentennial

Official Residence of the President of the USA,
built between 1792/1800 with
white-painted Aqua Creek Sandstone
in Neoclassical Style by James Hoban

Illuminated White House in wintertime
#1935/6 // October 13, 1981 // Washington, DC
(the stamp was issued in two denominations,
18¢/20¢, due to a pending rate change)

150th Anniversary of James Hoban's Death
(* ca. 1762, † 1831),
Irish born Architect of the White House

The White House and
Portrait of James Hoban
During the British-American War (June 18, 1812 - February 18, 1815) British troops torched the White House, destroying all but the outer walls, on August 24, 1814. It was a retaliation for the American attack on York, the Provincial capital of Upper Canada on the north-west shore of Lake Ontario, on April 27, 1813. James Hoban personally supervised the rebuilding process of the White House ruins after the conflagration. James Monroe (* 1758, † 1831) moved into the rebuilt house in the autumn of 1817 as fifth US President (in office 1817 - 1825).

#2561 // September 7, 1991
District of Columbia
Bicentennial

Capitol Building from
Pennsylvania Avenue, ca. 1903
#3813 // September 23, 2003
District of Columbia

District Map, National Mall,
Historic Houses,
and Cherry Blossoms


The stamp was issued in response to protests
from Washington, DC's absence from the
"Greetings from America" 50-stamp set.

#4651/2 // March 4, 2012 // Washington, DC
Cherry Blossom Centennial

Hundred years ago the city of Tokyo, the national capital of Japan, donated 3,020
cherry trees to the city of Washington, DC, the national capital of the USA.

Panoramic view of cherry trees blooming around the Tidal Basin,
Washington Monument and Japanese strollers (at left),
Jefferson Memorial and American strollers (at right).


View District of Columbia state quarter
View District of Columbia clock
The Federal District of Columbia was named in honor of
Christoph Columbus (*1451, † 1506),
the rediscoverer of the American continent in 1492.
The District has the smallest land area (61 mi2) and the
highest population density/mi2 (9,856) in the United States;
51% of the residents are African Americans.
The newly built national capital was officially named on September 9, 1791,
"Washington" in honor of George Washington (* 1732, † 1799),
first President of the USA (in office April 30, 1789 - March 4, 1797).
Land Area
rounded mi2 [km2]
61 [158]
ranked 51st
Population
(census 2010)
601,723
ranked 50th
Population Density
per mi2 [km2] of land area
9,856 [3,808]
ranked 1st
For statistical purposes the District of Columbia is considered both
a state-equivalent and a county-equivalent.


Stamped Cards 

#UX143 // November 13, 1989 // Washington, D.C.
Stamped Photo Postal Card
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500

#UX144 // December 2, 1989 // Washington, D.C.
Stamped Photo Postal Card
Jefferson Memorial
900 Ohio Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242

#UX151 // October 11, 1990 // Washington, D.C.
Stamped Photo Postal Card
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Centennial

Memorial Continental Hall
17th St., between C and D Sts., NW, Washington, DC 20006
(photo at left)

Constitution Hall
1776 D St NW, Washington, DC 20006
(imprinted stamp at right)

#UX99 // April 19, 1983 // Washington, D.C.
Stamped Postal Card
Old Post Office and Clock Tower
1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Originally built between 1892/1899 by American architect Willoughby J. Edbrooke (* 1843, † 1896) in Richardsonian Romanesque style. In 1973 the Old Post Office was added to the "National Register of Historic Places". Extensively renovated in 1976 and officially renamed in "Nancy Hanks Center" in 1983, in honor of Nancy Hanks (* 1927, † 1983), first female chairman (1969 - 1977) of the "National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)".

#UX128 // January 23, 1989 // Washington, D.C.
Stamped Postal Card
Historic Preservation Series
National Historic Landmark
Healy Hall, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
The University of Georgetown, a historic neighborhood of Washington, DC, was founded in 1789 by John Carroll (* 1735, † 1815), America's first Catholic bishop. Healy Hall is the historic flagship building at the main campus of the university. It was constructed between 1877/1879 and designed by the architects Paul J. Pelz (* 1841, † 1918) and John Smithmeyer (* 1832, † 1908) in Flemish Romanesque style with elements of Barockque. The building was named after the Jesuit priest Patrick Francis Healy (* 1830, † 1910), the 29th President (1873 - 1882) of Georgetown University.


        

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