Department of State

Historical marker location:

2201 C Street Northwest, Foggy Bottom, District of Columbia

( Marker is on 23rd Street Northwest south of D Street Northwest, on the right when traveling north.)

Harry S. Truman Building. 23rd Street Entrance

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.