YOU MAY THINK OF WASHINGTON DC, as the denizen of only politicians, lawyers and an army of lobbyists. But the District of Columbia has evolved beyond what you might have seen in politically minded TV shows such as “The West Wing,” “Madam Secretary” or “Designated Survivor.”
Once wetlands on the border of Maryland and Virginia, Washington is now a center of US history and culture (in addition to politics). Whether your ancestors lived in the capital city for a lifetime or just a single term of office, this guide will help you find your DC ancestors.
A HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, DC
The area that’s now the District of Columbia was first settled by indigenous tribes, including the Nacostine (Anacostan) and Patawomeck (Potomac), for whom rivers in the region are still named today. Europeans from nearby colonies—notably John Smith, of Jamestown fame—made contact with local tribes in the early
