The capital of the United States is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the country. There are the most important monuments of American architecture and the oldest quarters date back to the time of the founding fathers. In the historic districts of the city there are characteristic colorful townhouses erected at the end of the 19th century after the Civil War, when many new residents came to the city, mostly the representatives of the middle class and elite. Washington's former architecture was strongly influenced by the British trends, so the oldest streets are reminiscent of European cities.