Being situated in an area rich in American history and American heritage has led to the Potomac being nicknamed "the Nation's River". George Washington, the first President of the United States, was born in, surveyed, and spent most of his life within, the Potomac basin.

Washington led the way in chartering the Potomac Company by first seeking interstate cooperation between Virginia and Maryland in developing the Potomac River. Both states passed legislation in early 1785, and the details of trading rights were set forward in the Mount Vernon Compact that same year.

In July 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act which called for the permanent capital of the United States to be located on the Potomac River. When President George Washington signed the bill, he took personal control over the building of what he once termed "the seat of Empire."

6 days ago · The Potomac, noted for its beauty, is also rich in historical significance. Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, is on its banks below Washington, D.C. The river’s name derives from “Patawomeck,” as it was recorded by the colonist John Smith in 1608; its origin and meaning are unknown.

George Washington could have built his home anywhere on the Eastern Seaboard. He chose the Potomac River, forever identifying it as the “Nation’s River.”

In the spring of 1785, George Washington invited state representatives from Virginia and Maryland to meet at his plantation, Mount Vernon. They discussed developing a beneficial agreement to improve navigation on the Potomac River.

Feb 3, 2016 · George Washington founded the Potowmack Company, an enterprise dedicated to improving the navigation on the Potomac River.

George and Martha Custis Washington’s Mount Vernon is located on a bluff with a fine panoramic view of the Potomac, which he referred to as, “one of the finest Rivers in the world.” George Washington was a native of the Potomac tidewater, and he loved the river.