1. In 1804, the Washington, DC steamboat company launched its first steamboat, named the Washington, on the Potomac River. This was a significant development in transportation in the early days of the city.

2. On December 3, 1818, Congress approved the first funds for the construction of the C&O Canal, which eventually ran 184.5 miles from Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland. Construction of the canal lasted for more than 22 years.

3. The groundbreaking for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts took place on December 3, 1964. The center, which showcases a wide variety of live performances, has become a cultural landmark in the nation's capital.

4. On December 3, 1979, the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran was seized by Iranian militants, kicking off a 444-day hostage crisis. Fifty-two Americans were held captive until their release on January 20, 1981.

5. In 2014, Marion Barry, the former mayor of Washington, DC, passed away on December 3 at the age of 78. Barry was a controversial figure in D.C. politics, known for his advocacy for the city's African American community as well as his personal and legal troubles.