Capitol Hill

by Gaines Arnold

The United States is a very young country as compared to almost every other one in the world. That does not diminish the fact that there are many historic landmarks that date back hundreds of years to show that there were people who built monuments long before there was an organized country on this land. When America was fighting the Revolutionary War, many buildings that were of little significance to the people of the time other than markets or churches became symbols of a young nation’s struggle for independence. After the revolution, planning began for a capitol that would prove the artistic nature and power of the people who inhabit this great new land. The capitol was placed on land that was deeded to the United States by General, and later president, Washington. One of his first acts as resident was to begin the planning of the capitol and find an architect who was equal to the task. Capitol Hill was one of the first areas of the new capitol to take shape.

When Pierre L’Enfant was tasked with designing Washington, D.C. he first looked for a rise of land where the capitol building could look out on the rest of the city. From this beginning the Capitol Hill area was formed.

The area is bounded by the Anacostia River, which houses the famous Washington Naval Yard, H Street and the National Mall. It houses several buildings of governmental and historic interest to the nation as well as a large community of residents. The Supreme Court Building, Library of Congress, Marine barracks and the Congressional cemetery are all on Capitol Hill. It has served the likes of Frederick Douglass and Thomas Jefferson as a place of residence along with numerous of the contemporaries.

Capitol Hill is actually one of the residential areas within the city of Washington, D.C. that includes approximately 32,000 people. The main residences on the hill were historically representatives and senators who were spending the legislative session in Washington. The historic row houses, some built two hundred years ago, are either still in use by local residents, congressional workers or are deemed historic buildings because of former residents. There are also a number of bed and breakfast inns that populate the row houses to give visitors easy access to the mall and Capitol Hill.

There is also a thriving business district on the hill that includes a great number of shops and restaurants. The main drag for this area is Pennsylvania Avenue which may be shut down directly before the White House, but it offers vacationers a view of historic Washington while they stroll around the capitol.

The area has a definite charm and offers clear views of how the city has evolved over the past two centuries. It was declared a national historic site in 1976, but continues to act as the home to many people. Without the influence that has been seen behind the walls of some of those row houses it is difficult to determine how America would have gotten as far as it has. With the power and grace that have made Washington famous around the world, Capitol Hill stands as a beacon of the United States.

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