GoDCer, and D.C. native, Tony was kind enough to share a number of photos from his youth. His father was a pilot with Eastern Airlines (remember them?) and a few of the shots are taken by him, flying into National Airport (not Reagan). Read More »
In September 1955, President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while visiting Denver. He was rushed to Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, where he would spend seven weeks recovering. While convalescing, he continued to carry out his executive duties from his hospital suite (which is now open to tours). Early the following year, in February, the President and the First Lady returned to ... Read More »
Aviation has a strong history in the Washington area. Following on the heels of our last aeronautical first (Concorde at Dulles), here is another first for the region and the country. In the fall of 1958, Pan Am (i.e., the planet’s largest and coolest airline) was getting set to inaugurate their transatlantic passenger jet service. The four-engined Boeing 707 was ... Read More »
A horrific air disaster occurred on November 1st, 1949 near National Airport. An inbound passenger flight from Boston collided with a small military plane, killing everyone on board. This was the front page article of the Washington Post the following morning, reporting on the worst airliner disaster in U.S. history. Among the victims were Congressman George Bates of Massachusetts, Helen ... Read More »
Dulles International Airport is one of only two federally owned airports in the country (National Airport being the other). Some find it to be an ugly monstrosity. Others find it to be an architectural masterpiece — I am firmly in this camp — however, many functionality compromises were made in the name of aesthetics. Eero Saarinen, the notable Finnish architect, ... Read More »
This is seriously awesome. The Internet is just amazing. This is a video from February 11th, 1964. It is the first live concert the Beatles played in the U.S. and it was right here in our city. They had only just arrived in New York City on the 7th and played for a live audience of about 700 people on ... Read More »
Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington