Founded in 1751, Georgetown is the oldest neighborhood in Washington, D.C., predating the creation of “The District” by four decades. In 1791 the L’Enfant Plan combined Georgetown with the cities of Alexandria and Washington to become the District of Columbia, officially established in 1801 (Alexandria later voting to secede from the capital in 1846). Georgetown remained an independent municipality until 1871 when Congress enacted a unified government for the whole of D.C., and in 1895 Georgetown’s streets were renamed to conform with the rest of the capital.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in the 1960s, Georgetown today is home to an appealing mix of old and new, offering visitors a variety of opportunities to shop, dine, spend time outside, enjoy beautiful architecture, cafe hop, and learn more about its history.
