Source 3.01: “The Constitution of the United States,” Article 1, Section 8, Clause 5.
Source 3.02: An Act to amend “An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States.” Pub. L. 1 – III – 17. 1 Stat. 214-215. 3 March 1791. Law Library of Congress. Web.
Source 3.03: Ellicott, Andrew, and U.S. Coast And Geodetic Survey. Territory of Columbia. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1793] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Source 3.04: Parkyns, George Isham, Artist. Washington. New York: James Harrison, 1795. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Source 3.05: An Act concerning the District of Columbia. Pub. L. 6 – II – 15. 2 Stat. 103-107. 27 Feb 1801. Law Library of Congress. Web.
Source 3.06: Cartwright, T., Artist, and George Beck. George Town and Federal City, or City of Washington. London and Philadelphia: Atkins & Nightingale, 1801. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Source 3.07: H.C. Carey & I. Lea, and Young & Delleker. Geographical, statistical, and historical map of the District of Columbia. [Philadelphia: H.C. Carey & I. Lea, 1822] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Source 3.08: Lane, Fitz Henry, , Artist, and T. Moore’s Lithography. View of the city of Washington, the metropolis of the United States of America, taken from Arlington House, the residence of George Washington P. Custis Esq. / P. Anderson del. ; on stone by F.H. Lane. Boston: T. Moore’s Lithography, c, 1838. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
For most of Arlington’s history it was a rural area covered in dairy farms, fields, forests, and orchards. In 1790, the town of Alexandria was the 22nd most populous place in America with 2,748 people. The founding of Washington, D.C. as a our nation’s capitol in 1801 put Arlington on a course to develop into its suburb. This set of sources document the founding and early growth of D.C. (which included Arlington) in legislation and images. In S3.04 and S3.06. you can see Theodore Roosevelt Island (aka Mason Island or Analostan Island) and a small corner of Rosslyn.
These are some additional images:
- Parkyns, George Isham, Approximately 1820, Artist. View of the suburbs of the city of Washington. [ca. 1795] Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
- Bennett, W. J. , Engraver. City of Washington from beyond the Navy Yard / painted by G. Cooke ; engd. by W.J. Bennett. New York, N.Y.: Published by Lewis P. Clover 180 Fulton St, ca. 1834. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
- E. Sachse & Co., Lithographer, and Frederick Dielman. Aqueduct of Potomac, Georgetown, D.C. / drawn from nature by F. Dielman ; lith. by E. Sachse & Co., Baltimore. Washington, D.C.: Published by C. Bohn, ca. 1865. Image. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.