Swampoodle: The Lost Irish Neighborhood Union Station Erased
A rough, all-Irish neighborhood called Swampoodle once stood where Union Station is now. The railroad cleared it, and DC forgot.
Swampoodle
Swampoodle was a scrappy Irish immigrant neighborhood clustered around the old Baltimore and Ohio rail yards in Northwest DC, long since absorbed by the construction of Union Station and the development that followed.
The Washington Nationals Playing at Swampoodle Grounds in the 1880s
An 1880s photograph of the Washington Nationals playing at Swampoodle Grounds. Click through for the full-resolution version to pick out the details.
The Colorful Story of Morris Connors and the Lost Neighborhood of Swampoodle
Learn the colorful story of Morris Connors, a notorious Swampoodle thief and rough, as we explore the lost neighborhood of Swampoodle. We uncovered the article in The Washington Post, printed on October 20th, 1879. Come along on this journey of historical context and facts!
Swampoodle and the 1903 Map That Marked It for Demolition
In 1903 a blue-inked overlay on a real estate atlas of Washington DC marked the Swampoodle neighborhood for demolition. Union Station erased it by 1908.
Exploring the History of Swampoodle and Union Station in DC
Discover the history of Swampoodle, a rough and tumble Irish neighborhood in DC, and how it was destroyed to make way for Union Station in the early 1900s. Explore the 1888 Sanborn fire insurance map of Swampoodle with Ghosts of DC.
New Gonzaga College Advertisement in the Washington Times – August 31st, 1913
Read about the history of Gonzaga College and their 1913 advertisement in the Washington Times. Learn more about the Jesuits’ persistence and the school’s current status as the premier Catholic high school of Washington.
Exploring the Streets of Swampoodle in 1895: A Column From the Washington Post
Take a step back in time to 1895 and explore the rough Irish immigrant neighborhood of Swampoodle. Read a column from the Washington Post that tells the story of three locals who boozed until the wee hours of the morning.