Below are 5 interesting facts about January 15 in District of Columbia history:
1. In 1801, the District of Columbia was officially placed under the jurisdiction of Congress and became the capital of the United States. The city was built on land donated by Maryland and Virginia, and was named after Christopher Columbus.
2. On January 15, 1865, the District of Columbia formally abolished slavery, three months before the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified.
3. In 1929, the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday was celebrated in the District of Columbia for the first time on January 15, the birthday of the civil rights icon.
4. On January 15, 1975, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) began operating the Washington Metro, the second-busiest rapid transit system in the United States.
5. In 2011, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was officially dedicated in the District of Columbia on January 15, making it the first national monument in honor of an African-American individual on the National Mall.
5 Fun Facts About January 15 In District Of Columbia History
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