Posts about History
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How the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad and the Penn Line shaped the region’s suburbs
Much of DC beyond the original L’Enfant city and Georgetown consists of “streetcar suburbs,” namely late-19th and early-20th Century communities that grew up around streetcar lines. This week we’re digging into the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad and the Penn Line. Keep reading…
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Meet me down in Pipetown — DC’s neighborhoods in 1877
By now, most Washingtonians have heard of Swampoodle, the historic Irish neighborhood that was destroyed by the construction of Union Station. But what about The Island? Pipetown? Bloody Hill? These were all names of Washington, DC neighborhoods during the decades of the 1800s following the end of the Civil War. Keep reading…
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Today’s problems were visible decades ago, but zoning has blocked solutions ever since
No one could have foreseen that DC’s zoning could push middle-class residents out of the District and force people to drive even to get milk, right? Actually, planners in 1970 warned us exactly of these dangers. Keep reading…
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Here’s what the Metro could have looked like
The look of the Metro could have been much, much different. It took some time before Chicago-based architect Harry Weese finally got approval from members of the US Commission of Fine Arts. Keep reading…
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The Potomac River once had a suspension bridge
Crossing the Potomac River between DC’s Palisades neighborhood and North Arlington, there have been eight bridges since 1797. For much of the 19th Century, the crossing was a literal chain suspension bridge. Keep reading…
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Take a look at what Farragut Square looked like over 130 years ago
Here are a few historical images of Farragut Square, located in downtown DC. What differences do you notice between then and now? Keep reading…
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The fascinating story of DC’s aqueducts and reservoirs
Have you ever wondered where the District’s drinking water comes from or puzzled over why the McMillan reservoir is located in the center of the city, far from the water sources that supply it? GGWash contributor Elliot Carter’s DC Underground Atlas showcases the history and engineering of this hidden underground world. Here’s a taste of what he found. Keep reading…
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DC’s countless thirtysomething office buildings stare down mid-life crises
When it comes to ribbon windows, aluminum facade panels, pink marble and brass lobbies, beige carpet, and fluorescent tube lights, we’re number one! What should the region do with their glut of 80s and 90s-style office buildings? Keep reading…
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Here is the history of mandatory bicycle bell laws
Back in 2013, DC took the unusual step of allowing bikes to be ridden in the District without a bell, something the city had required for more than 125 years—and something a lot of other cities had required as well. Some advocates successfully argued that bicycle bells were an add-on that did nothing to improve safety, so they shouldn’t be mandatory. Keep reading…
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How Prince George’s County was divided and named in colonial times and after independence
In May, I wrote a pair of articles on the difficulties in naming regions of Prince George’s County. This time, I’m going to go all the way back to colonial Maryland to dive into how regions of the county were divided up and named in the past. Keep reading…