D.C. residents might have a leg up for this question. Washington, District of Columbia, was named in honor of the older sister of Uncle Sam, Columbia. From the 18th century until the early 20th, the spirit of America was portrayed as a majestic and proud woman, clad in breast-plates and stars-and-stripes skirts. The tune “Hail, Columbia” was composed for President George Washington’s inauguration and served as the unofficial national anthem until "The Star-Spangled Banner" replaced it in 1931. Columbia was a popular costume for suffragettes, but after women were granted the right to vote in 1920, the female symbol began to fall out of favor, almost dropping out of patriotic consciousness 100 years later. Uncle Sam, proclaiming the need for Americans’ support, rose in popularity during World War II. One place you can still find the striking lady Columbia? The opening credits for films produced by Columbia Pictures.
Source: The Atlantic | Date Updated: September 17, 2020
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