Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A City Built on Water
It's easy to forget that much of the land you're walking on didn't always exist. Take West Potomac Park, for example. This iconic stretch of greenery, which hosts some of the city…
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It's easy to forget that much of the land you're walking on didn't always exist. Take West Potomac Park, for example. This iconic stretch of greenery, which hosts some of the city's most famous memorials, was actually formed from tidal flats reclaimed between 1882 and 1913.
Congress officially declared it parkland in 1897, transforming a marshy shoreline into a curated landscape of cherry trees and reflecting pools. This pattern of reclaiming the river defines the city’s edge, from the manicured lawns of the National Mall to the pedestrian connections of the Georgetown Waterfront Park. By pushing back the Potomac, Washington created a stage for its monuments and a breath of fresh air for its residents.
As you walk, just imagine the water that used to lap against these very shores.
Updated June 2026