1. In 1791, the first cornerstone for the United States Capitol building was laid in the District of Columbia. The construction of the building would take over 30 years to complete.

2. In 1946, George Washington University became the first university in the District of Columbia to admit African-American students. The university had previously been segregated, but admitted three African-American students that year.

3. In 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon participated in the first televised presidential debate at the CBS studio in Washington D.C. The debate would have a significant impact on the outcome of the 1960 presidential election.

4. In 1983, the World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington D.C. The memorial was created to honor the 16 million Americans who served in the war and the more than 400,000 who died.

5. In 2014, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in the District of Columbia. The museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution and is the only national museum dedicated to the African American experience.