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Virginia
Few states had as big a role as Virginia in the birth of the United States. In fact, the first permanent English settlement in North America was in Virginia, at Jamestown.
Many key debates leading up to the American Revolution (1775-1783) were held in Williamsburg, Virginia. Virginians such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were among the heroes and leaders of early America. How fitting that the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., borders on Virginia!
Washington
Washington is named for George Washington, the first president of the United States. Did you know that it is the only state in the nation named for a president?
MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES
Mount Rainier is Washington’s highest peak at 14,410 feet (4,392 meters). This volcano has not erupted in 2,000 years. Native Americans knew it by another name, Tahoma. Washington’s Cascade Range has several volcanic mountains. These beautiful, snowcapped peaks provide places to ski, hike, and enjoy nature. But everyone knows that these peaks can also erupt, just as Mount Saint Helens did.
West Virginia
West Virginia’s nickname is the Mountain State. That’s because the heart of the state is in the Appalachian Mountains. These rugged mountains are thick with forests and divided by deep river valleys. In fact, the state is so rugged that large areas of level land are scarce.
The mountains give West Virginia its magnificent scenery. West Virginia’s state motto is Montani semper liber (Mountaineers are always free).
SMALL AND RURAL
West Virginia is the tenth smallest state in land area. It has less than 2 million people.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., is a great place for a field trip. Tens of thousands of school kids go there every year. What’s so great about Washington? It’s the capital of the United States.
The D.C. stands for District of Columbia, the name of the capital territory. Washington is the name of the city that fills the entire District of Columbia.
SEE THE WHITE HOUSE
The president of the United States lives in the White House, a beautiful mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the middle of Washington, D.C. The White House has 132 rooms! You can visit it to see where former presidents lived and worked.
White House
The best-known address in the United States is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. It’s the White House, the home of the president of the United States. This is where the president lives, works, and entertains the leaders of other countries.
You can visit the White House and see some of the rooms used for entertaining.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
There are more than 130 rooms in the White House. They spread across a main building and two wings called the East Wing and the West Wing. You can recognize the main building by its large central porches with tall columns. The wings were added later. Large lawns and gardens surround the White House.