Tiber Creek, Underground tributary of Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
Tiber Creek is an underground tributary of the Potomac River beneath Washington, D.C., flowing through a network of channels and tunnels under Constitution Avenue. The waterway serves as part of the city's stormwater and drainage infrastructure, helping manage runoff from the surrounding urban landscape.
The creek was originally called Goose Creek until settler Francis Pope renamed it Tiber Creek in the 1600s when he established his farmstead along its banks. The waterway was channeled underground in 1815 to make room for the expanding capital.
The creek's name comes from Francis Pope, who chose the Roman name to evoke classical ideals when settling the land in the 1600s. This choice reflected how early planners imagined the growing capital as a modern city with grand aspirations.
The underground water can affect nearby buildings during heavy rainstorms when the system becomes overloaded. Visitors will not see the creek itself, as it remains completely hidden beneath the city streets.
Before being driven underground, the waterway held shad, pike, and catfish that served as a food source for early residents and anglers. These fish populations disappeared once the creek was confined to tunnels beneath the city.
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