Previewing George Washington University, Washington, D. C.

George Washington University shares the job of educating at the college level in D. C. with other major institutions like Georgetown University, American University , Howard University and others. But it is the only school there that shares a common name with its host city and the national capital. George Washington University extends this personal closeness with the presidency through its location only 4 city blocks from the White House . For some students this prime address might be enough to get their attention but George Washington University has much more to offer.

A Long and Illustrious History Not surprisingly it was in accordance with the expressed wishes of our first president, George Washington, that a college was established within the District of Columbia. The college was established by an act of Congress in 1821 and served for some time as a Baptist college and seminary. At the first graduation ceremonies such dignitaries as President James Monroe , Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun and Washington's old comrade in arms the Marquis de Lafayette were in attendance.

In part because of its central location in Washington, D. C. the university was used during the Civil War as a Union hospital to care for those brought back from battle. Throughout most of the first century of George Washington University in Washington, D. C. the school was called first the Columbian College and then, as it expanded, the Columbian University due to its location in the District of Columbia. It was not until 1904 that the college was officially renamed The George Washington University. Since that time the school has gone on to distinguish itself as a university with an academically challenging undergraduate school and a university with top notch graduate schools in law and medicine. George Washington University Hospital is the frequent choice of national political figures in part because of its proximity and in part because of its esteemed medical treatment programs. .