Posts about History
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Why the Washington region’s first attempt at bikeshare failed
DC is known globally for being the birthplace of American bikeshare, but much like the systems it looked to for guidance, it struggled in its first attempt to get off the ground. Keep reading…
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In Prince George’s County, there once was a supermarket fit for a queen
There was a Giant supermarket in Prince George’s County that Queen Elizabeth II toured all the way back in October of 1957. Keep reading…
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Advocates have pushed for a subway in DC since FDR and WWII
Between 1932, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected, and 1941, when the US entered the war, the District’s population rose by nearly 50%. This spike in population led to overloaded buses and streetcars, as well as severe automobile congestion. The city was in desparate need of transportation alternatives. Keep reading…
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Here’s how the Washington & Old Dominion railroad created Northern Virginia’s suburbs
Today, the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) is a paved trail used for fun and commuting across Northern Virginia. Of course, originally the Washington & Old Dominion was a railroad — one with a long and convoluted history that helped form Dunn Loring, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, and other communities that still exist to this day. Keep reading…
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Imagine being able to take a train to Great Falls. That was once reality.
Today, the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) is a paved bicycle trail used for fun and for commuting across Northern Virginia. Of course, the Washington & Old Dominion was originally a railroad — one with a long and convoluted history that helped form communities along it including Dunn Loring, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn. Keep reading…
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Nearly 1,400 multifamily units planned for Friendship Heights, heralding change for a neighborhood struggling with vacant retail
After many troubled years, Friendship Heights is set to rise again, with several new developments in progress.
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Four Black men developed a Montgomery County suburb to provide a better life for some in their community. They received something very different in return.
In 1906, four African American men attempted to develop an elite suburb for African Americans along Wisconsin Avenue between Chevy Chase and Friendship Heights, Maryland. Despite facing intense hostility from adjacent white landowners, at least 28 people bought lots. However, their vision was ultimately undone using subtler methods, showing how nominally race-blind tools can serve racist ends. Keep reading…
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Branch renovations and a pivot away from books: Prince George’s County libraries since 2000
The story of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System in the 21st century is a story of renovations and replacements, and a pivot away from printed books and toward more electronic services. Keep reading…
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The 1970s tax reform initiative that debilitated Prince George’s County libraries
The 1960s and 1970s saw major growth in the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS). But at the end of the 1970s, that growth ground to a halt when residents passed a racially-motivated referendum limiting the county’s taxing authority. Keep reading…
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How schools in DC were part of a legacy of segregation
Here’s a look at how the educational inequity in the District was built on decades of formally, and informally, mandated segregation. Keep reading…