DCentric

D.C. was never an immigrant magnet like New York or Philadelphia, Lane says, but when the Irish fled their country during the famine of the 1840s and 50s, the U.S. Government was in the midst of a hiring spree. Immigrants who ventured further down the coast went right to work building the Capitol, the Post Office and many other structures that make up the National Mall. And because they wanted to live as close to work as possible, they patched together homes and stores near the capitol.

— wamu.org