On August 21, 1800, the Marine Band gave its first public concert in Washington on a hill overlooking the area which became the National Mall. At the time, the band probably consisted of two oboes, two clarinets, two French horns, a bassoon, and a drum. The
United States Marine Band was created by an Act of Congress in 1798 to provide music for the President. When the seat of government moved from Philadelphia to Washington in 1800, the Band followed, performing for
President Adams at the unfinished
White House on New Year's Day 1801.