Posts tagged History
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Morning links: Smart
Smart to keep a balance; Ivy City sues to stop buses; The long road to change; Greenbelt has a plan; Minnesota Ave development finally starts; Not for sale; Fewer cars on the Seine; And…. Keep reading…
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Film shows rural postal delivery in 1903
Here’s film that I came across in the Library of Congress’ archives. It was shot on August 8th, 1903 in rural Washington, DC. Keep reading…
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Do you know the other Watergate?
Before “Watergate” became synonymous with a group of buildings and a scandal, it was the name applied to something else. And it’s something that most of us are very familiar with, especially if you’re an avid runner who heads down to the Lincoln Memorial, on the Potomac River side. There are a series of steps between the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River, which give the odd impression… Keep reading…
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1950 plan shows never-built freeways
The 1950 plans for DC show massive efforts to remove people from so-called “blighted” neighborhoods, and give more fascinating and scary insights into the urban development mindset of the day. They also include a full-color map showing the many freeways then planned for DC: Keep reading…
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Was your neighborhood “obsolete” in 1950?
The National Capital Park and Planning Commission, forerunner to today’s NCPC, declared most of Shaw, Mount Vernon Square and Triangle, Capitol Hill, Southwest, Buena Vista and other neighborhoods “obsolete” in 1950. Yes, amazingly, they really used that term. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Heat wave
Heat to blame; Wave bye to heat wave; I70 turns in sigs; Another tech tax break; Wild city; Bike more places in parks; Less smart growth; And…. Keep reading…
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An attempted murder kindled DC’s first race riot in 1835
The 1830s are not a well-known period in Washington’s history. Too late for L’Enfant and too early for Lincoln, they are a mystery to most residents. But hiding beneath the quiet surface were rising racial tensions, as vividly described in Jefferson Morley’s new book, Snow-Storm in August. Morley brings the 1830s to life with an account of dramatic events… Keep reading…
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Round-shots and bridge toll repeal sparked Anacostia
Today’s Anacostia, originally known as Uniontown, started developing in 1854, much earlier than surrounding neighborhoods. A number of obscure events triggered this, including an enterprising Naval lieutenant’s arrival and repealing tolls on the Navy Yard Bridge. Most accounts suggest that a sale of lots by the Union (Town) Land Association in present-day… Keep reading…
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Metro’s 17-foot long “experimental station”
At first glance, this looks like a mundane promotional photo from the early days of Metro’s Judiciary Square station. It isn’t. You’re looking at a full-scale “experimental” station built in 1968 to practice underground building techniques. It wasn’t underground. And it wasn’t at Judiciary Square. Washington’s… Keep reading…
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New book celebrates Congressional Cemetery’s history
Once listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the most endangered historic sites in the country, Congressional Cemetery has come a long way, a shining example of residents taking guardianship of their built environment. A new book, Historic Congressional Cemetery, examines some of the history preserved in the cemetery. “A lot of folks who live right… Keep reading…