The Washington story
Shopping here since 1751.
Georgetown was a tobacco port before there was a capital, the fish market has sold crabs on the waterfront since 1805, and Eastern Market has opened its doors on Capitol Hill since 1873.
- 1749
Alexandria is laid out
Old Town Alexandria is laid out on the Potomac; its Market Square dates to 1753.
Open Old Town → - 1751
Georgetown is founded
Georgetown is founded in colonial Maryland at a tobacco trading post and grows into a busy river port.
Open Georgetown → - 1805
The fish market opens
The Municipal Fish Market opens on the Southwest waterfront, still selling crabs by the bushel at The Wharf.
Open The Wharf → - 1873
Eastern Market opens
Adolf Cluss's market hall at 7th and C Streets SE opens on Capitol Hill and has run ever since.
Open Eastern Market → - 1931
Union Terminal Market
Union Terminal Market opens north of Florida Avenue NE, the start of today's Union Market.
Open Union Market → - 1968
Tysons Corner Center opens
One of the region's first enclosed malls opens in Virginia on July 25, 1968.
Open Tysons → - 2014
CityCenterDC's luxury row
Burberry, Kate Spade, Hugo Boss, Longchamp and Zadig & Voltaire open on the new downtown blocks.
Open CityCenterDC → - 2017
The Wharf opens
The first phase of The Wharf opens on the Washington Channel; the second is finished in 2022.
Open The Wharf →


