Presuming that Georgetown was founded in the late 18th century, I also presumed it was named after George Washington, since it is part of Washington, DC.
However, when I started researching the backstory to verify that thought, I found a muddle of possibilities.
GEORGE WASHINGTON?
When I learned that Georgetown was founded in 1751, I agreed that George Washington wasn’t a likely possibility since he was only 19 at that time.
TWO GEORGES FROM MARYLAND?
Further, the town was at that time part of Maryland, since it is on the northern side of the Potomac River.
Since the mid-18th century was entrenched in the mercantile economic system, the colonies were bound to provide goods to England in exchange for goods from around the world.
Thus each colony had a specialized good that Britain needed.
Like Virginia, Maryland provided Britain with their tobacco.
Around 1745, a tobacco inspection station for Maryland was built by George Gordon, allowing Marylanders to have their tobacco inspected and shipped to Britain at the same spot.
A town soon grew around this important spot.
In 1751, the Maryland legislature purchased 60 acres of land from George Gordon (who had built the tobacco inspection station) and also George Beall, which they later chartered as a town.
Although this historical information cause many to believe that Georgetown was named for these two Georges, there is yet another theory.
KING GEORGE II?
During this time, King George II ruled Britain, and many localities named their towns after the reigning king.
If so, then how ironic that today a town named for a king is part of Washington, DC.
Or perhaps, that could be seen as how it all turned out.
RESTAURANTS
Today, Georgetown is apparently known for its shopping, although I haven’t discovered any of that yet.
However, I learned on a boat ride from Alexandria to Georgetown and back in 2004, that restaurants are a big deal!
The tour boat we took docked at Georgetown, allowing guests to step out to enjoy dinner, then catch another boat back to Alexandria on a return trip.
Twice this year we’ve eaten great food in Georgetown, last spring at Osteria Mozza for brunch, then on this day at Founding Farmers Fishers and Bakers for dinner.
For dessert at both places I purchased specialty dark chocolate truffles in cute little boxes to take with me. Delicious!
GORGEOUS TOWNHOUSES
One of the things I like to do the most in Georgetown is walk by all the gorgeous townhouses, which we did last spring.
BOARDWALK
On this day I wanted to walk the boardwalk to see what I could see!
Check my youtube link for a video of the sculler we watched on the Potomac.
Actually, I was determined to walk to the beginning of Rock Creek (inlet at top) and the beginning of the C&O Canal (inlet at bottom) that originated in 1828.
Georgetown is at the fall line, so this is the furthest north boats can go on the Potomac River.
George Washington often advocated for a canal to cross the many rapids of the Potomac River.
First mile marker…or kilo marker of the C&O Canal which is 184.5 miles long.
Walking back to Washington Harbor from the beginning of the C&O Canal during the summer solstice…
