Wilson Memorial Arch

Historical marker location:

1301 Independence Avenue Southwest, Southwest Federal Center, District of Columbia

( Marker is at the intersection of Independence Avenue Southwest and 14th Street Southwest, on the left when traveling west on Independence Avenue Southwest.)

The city was built on a swamp: The area that is now Washington, D.C. was originally a swampy, marshy region along the Potomac River. The construction of the city involved extensive drainage and landfill projects to make the land suitable for building.