Washington D.C. Was Once Burned to the Ground by British Forces

On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812, British troops marched into Washington D.C. and set fire to the Capitol, the White House, and other government buildings — the only time since the Revolutionary War that a foreign power has captured and occupied the U.S. capital. According to legend, a sudden violent storm with a possible tornado helped extinguish the fires and forced the British to retreat.

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https://www.history.com/news/burning-of-washington-dc-war-of-1812

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Published: April 8, 2026
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Washington History Politics

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