After the American Revolution in the United States began to think of how to elect the country's capital cities. Various cities of the country and claimed the honor of being the capital of the nation. In the end it was decided to build a new city. In 1790, Congress passed a law to define the place for the new city, which was destined to become the capital. It was chosen on the Potomac River and its area does not exceed 26 square meters. km. This whole area was named the District of Columbia in honor of Christopher Columbus, and the city was named in honor of Washington the first president of the United States. President Washington invited the famous French engineer and architect Pierre LEnfana to build a new city. The plan called for laying wide avenues lined with trees, beautiful construction of government buildings and the erection of monuments in honor of prominent people.By 1800, the presidential palace was almost finished. Built on a hill Capitol. Hill was renamed Capitol Hill. Capitol building became the Congress. In 1800, President John Adams and other members of the government have moved to a new federal capital, Washington, DC.