Most people think the Pentagon's famous five-sided shape represents military symbolism or strategic design. The real story is far more surprising: the world's most recognizable military building got its iconic shape because it had to fit around the property lines of an experimental farm in Arlington, Virginia. When architects had just one weekend in July 1941 to design the world's largest office building, they shaped it to match the boundaries created by old farm roads.
The Old Dutch Market at Dupont Circle is now occupied by CVS. It was a thriving business in DC through the 1920s. See their launch ad and learn more about what happened to them.
Explore the highways of Washington, D.C. in 1911 with this historic map from the Library of Congress. See roads, routes, and more from over 100 years ago.
Read the story of Queen, the wild dog of Potomac Park who was slain in 1913. Learn about Queen's reign of terror over pedestrians and motor car drivers, and the efforts to shoot her that ultimately failed.
Take a look into the past with this drawing of the U.S. Senate chamber during the Thirtieth Congress. Learn more about the history of the U.S. Senate with this drawing from Duke University.
Take a look back at a really cool old photo of the Government Printing Office off of North Capitol St. Don't miss this great story about a man who worked at the GPO and his family!
Take a look at 1810 Shepherd St. in Washington, DC, from the 1950s to today. See how the building has changed over the years. Check it out on Ghosts of DC!
Take a step back in time and explore a Civil War-era photo of Independence Ave. This incredible photo showcases the Smithsonian Institution Building and the U.S. Capitol dome, taken before the 1865 fire. Source: Smithsonian Archives.
What did the land in and around Washington look like at the end of the 18th century? This map shows the Carroll family land in what would grow into DC.
Take a journey through D.C. history with this 1937 map of neighborhood boundaries. Learn more about the city's past and explore the changes that have taken place over the years.
Discover the unexpected history of Home Rule at 1807 14th St. NW, from Edward L. Coates' harassment of Senators to the busts of the numbers racket. Plus, learn about the store's current owners since 1999.
