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In
centuries past,
before the coming of the European settlers, Indians from the lands
later to be named Maryland and Virginia would travel many miles to a
place of "roaring waters" on a mighty river. The tribes would meet at
the falls, not only to honor the river spirit in ceremonies, but to
trade, at this place they called "Potawomecke." In colonial times this
river ... now called Potomac ... saw the growth of the important port
cities of Georgetown and Alexandria; growth aided by the new nation's
first canal, built by George Washington on the Virginia shore at Great
Falls. At the fall line below Great Falls, our founding fathers chose
the site for the capital city of the newly formed United States, to be
named Washington, D.C.
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