Hidden Halls of Power: Secret History of the White House & DC

Washington, DC, has not always served as the federal government's headquarters. Following the Revolutionary War, the Residency Act of 1790 allowed for the establishment of the federal government in New York City, Philadelphia, and finally Washington, D.C. Establishing the federal government's seat was difficult due to the undeveloped state of the area that is today known as downtown Washington, DC. Land needed to be surveyed, maps needed to be created, and plans needed to be created for the new US capitol. Given that the newly established federal government had incurred enormous debts during the Revolutionary War that needed to be paid off, these duties proved to be easier said than done. As we travel through historical sites that date from the period immediately following the Revolutionary War to the present, we will be reminded of the American tale.