Earth's Oldest Living Organism Is a Clonal Colony of Aspen Trees

Despite the city being named after him, George Washington never lived in the capital that bears his name. He oversaw the planning and construction of the city but died in December 1799 — before the federal government officially moved there in 1800. Washington spent most of his life at his plantation, Mount Vernon, located about 15 miles south of the city.

Beneath the U.S. Capitol complex runs a small, dedicated subway system known as the Capitol Subway System. It consists of two underground rail lines connecting the Capitol building to the House and Senate office buildings, allowing lawmakers and their staff to travel quickly between offices without going outside. The system has been in operation since 1909.

A common myth claims that no building in D.C. can be taller than the Capitol dome, but the truth is stranger: the 1910 Height of Buildings Act limits most structures to no more than 130 feet (about 40 meters) on commercial streets. This law — not the Capitol's height — is why Washington D.C. has no skyscrapers, giving it one of the most distinctive, flat skylines of any major capital city.

The White House is far larger than most people imagine. It contains 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators spread across 6 floors. It also has a tennis court, bowling alley, movie theater, jogging track, and swimming pool — all within the grounds of what is officially the President's home and office.