Interesting and Little Known Facts about Washington, DC

Interesting and Little Known Facts about Washington, DC

Washington, DC has so much to offer, but how much do you really know about Washington, DC. Below we offer some cool facts about Washington, DC. Tell us some cool facts people may not know about your city.

Although DC residents pay taxes to the federal government, they do not have a voting representative in Congress. That’s why you may see license plates on cars that say “Taxation without Representation.”

DC averages 39 inches of rainfall a year—more than Seattle.

The first official White House Christmas Tree was decorated by Benjamin Harrison and family.

The U.S. government is based in DC, but the city is run by a mayor and the city council. The mayor and the city council members are elected to four-year terms.

Mayor Vincent Gray

The District of Columbia was named after the great explorer Christopher Columbus.

The White House was being built while George Washington was in office, so he never actually lived there.

The White House was originally called the “President’s Palace” or the “President’s House.” A Baltimore reporter once called it the “white house” in a newspaper article and the name caught on. Theodore Roosevelt made this the official name in 1901.

Woodrow Wilson is the only president to live in Washington, DC after his terms in office. You can tour his former home, the Woodrow Wilson House Museum, located near Dupont Circle.

Woodrow Wilson House Museum

Nationals Park is on track to be the first “green-certified” baseball stadium in the country.

DC is a very international city, home to more than 170 embassies and international cultural centers. The city’s colleges and universities host about 20,000 international students each year, and 15% of DC residents speak a language other than English at home.

The Holiday Inn Central is located just blocks from DC’s greatest sites. Visit us online for more information on Washington, DC family packages, events and sites at www.inndc.com. So pack up the family and visit Washington, DC!