United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals

Historical marker location:

717 Madison Pl NW, Downtown Washington, District of Columbia

( Marker can be reached from Madison Place Northwest south of H Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south.)

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.