The United States capital, Washington, D.C., has been the site of several events in the nation's history of aviation, beginning from the time of the American Civil War, often for the purpose of promoting the adoption of new aeronautical technologies by the government.

It has also been home to several governmental and civilian aircraft manufacturers and aviation organizations, and several aerospace contractors.

The first aeronautical event was the tethered demonstration flight of a hot air balloon, the Enterprise, by Thaddeus S. C. Lowe to Abraham Lincoln.

The flight included the demonstration of a balloon-to-ground telegraph, resulting in Lowe being appointed to the newly created position of Chief Aeronaut.

[1] Most large Defense Contractors choose to have branch offices in Washington, D.C., for access to policy and budgetary decision makers.