Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington

This is a guest post by John (from The Lion of Anacostia), cross-posted here. Arlington National Cemetery, the pre-Civil War home of Robert E. Lee, is a short Metro ride from Washington, DC. This week was my second visit in a year to Section 60 for the burial of a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who gave his last measure of devotion to country ... Read More »

Yes, it is true that Abner Doubleday’s true role in the birth of baseball is highly disputed, but that didn’t matter during the 1939 baseball season. The New York Yankees were in town to play our Washington Senators and on April 17th, 1939. This happened to be the 100th anniversary of the game. Somewhere in the photo above, you might ... Read More »

This is an amazing old color photo that I came across on the Library of Congress’ website. It was taken by John Collier in May 1943. The unnamed sailor at left appears to be somewhere between 19 to 24 and is visiting Arlington National Cemetery with his girlfriend. The photo is one of a large collection transferred to the Library ... Read More »

This title is worthy of a big #WTF. Posts like this are sadly some of the more popular ones. I don’t know if GoDCers are attracted to the macabre, but it sure seems that way. So here’s another one for “From the Crazy Vault.” This is a crazy story of a military officer who shoots his wife while she was asleep ... Read More »

Here’s a haunting and solemn colorized photo from 1921, much like the Lincoln photo I posted a while back. The Unknown Soldier from World War I had just arrived by ship at the Washington Navy Yard. The body was interred at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11th, 1921. Both former President Woodrow Wilson and current President Harding were present at ... Read More »

A couple of reader comments about an Officer Sprinkle in this earlier post piqued my interest in finding out a little more about the guy who has the kind of name you’d give to a cat. An unforgettable name, so hopefully I’ll be able to dig up enough information on this guy to write a post worthy of being “A ... Read More »

Here’s a video I came across on YouTube of the old president and recently inaugurated one attending the burial ceremony of the Unknown Soldier. President Wilson was instrumental in honoring those “unknown but to God” by having them interred in the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Read More »

I am obsessed with Red Rocks at 11th and Park NW. I have been since day one. In the hopes that I can convince my wife to go there tonight (or at least this weekend), I think it’s only fitting that they’re the first restaurant that I do a little historical research on. At least I know the proprietors will ... Read More »

The country was in mourning, having just lost our President a few weeks earlier in Dallas. This is a pretty somber, powerful and moving video of the Kennedy family leaving the White House and moving into their new Georgetown home at 3038 N St NW. There’s another shot of Jackie visiting JFK’s grave in Arlington Cemetery. Read More »