What is the name of the John Philip Sousa march named after a famous newspaper?

In 1889, the new owners of a prominent Washington, D.C. newspaper sought a grand piece of music for an awards ceremony. The event was to honor the winners of an essay contest sponsored by the paper to promote its new ownership and encourage local schoolchildren. The commission went to John Philip Sousa, the esteemed leader of the United States Marine Band. The resulting composition premiered on June 15, 1889, on the grounds of the Smithsonian, with President Benjamin Harrison in attendance.

The piece was an immediate success and quickly gained widespread popularity far beyond its original purpose. Its composition was perfectly suited for a new dance craze, the two-step, that was sweeping the nation. The march became so inextricably linked with this dance that the two-step was often simply called "The Washington Post." This unexpected connection propelled the march to international fame, cementing Sousa's reputation and earning him the moniker "The March King" from a British journalist.

While Sousa composed many famous patriotic marches, this particular piece owes its existence to a clever promotional effort by a newspaper. For his composition, which would go on to be one of his most famous and profitable works for the publisher, Sousa was paid a mere $35. Today, the newspaper's building honors Sousa for his significant contribution to both the paper's history and American music.