This is a great bit of Washington trivia for everyone to commit to memory … especially if you live anywhere along 16th St. NW. Pierre L’Enfant had originally planned the City of Washington around a right triangle, with the eastern portion at the Capitol, the northern portion at the White House and the 90 degree angle close to where the ... Read More »
This will be a nice twist on our “Three Things…” theme. GoDC buddy Wayne emailed last week and asked the question that everyone asks. Where is J Street? Because it’s not where it’s supposed to be, between I and K streets. There are quite a few theories on this, and below are three of the most popular ones. 1. A ... Read More »
By 1800, the City of Washington was ready – as ready as a hastily constructed city could be – to be occupied by the federal government. In Philadelphia on May 15th, President Adams issued the order to begin removal of the federal government to Washington. Adams stayed in the city for two more weeks while things were packed up and ... Read More »
The hundred square mile plot selected as the new seat of government was not unclaimed land. There were farms, estates and towns that were being swallowed up by United States government. But, I should add, that this wasn’t a case of eminent domain. Nineteen original landowners were negotiated with, directly by George Washington himself at the end of March, 1791. ... Read More »
Way back in the day, the building we now know as the White House was called the “President’s Palace”, “President’s Mansion”, or the “President’s House.” The nomenclature evolved over time, with the accepted name for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue becoming the “Executive Mansion.” It wasn’t until Teddy Roosevelt‘s presidency that the building would be officially referred to at “The White House.” ... Read More »
Most people don’t know this, but prior to home rule in 1973, Washington did have mayors, the first of whom was Robert Brent. Brent was part of the Carroll family of Maryland — a prominent catholic family that gave much of the land incorporated into the District — and friend of Thomas Jefferson. In 1802, Congress abolished the Board of ... Read More »
Not too long ago, the main drag through Washington, on the north side of the Mall, adhered to the structured naming convention of this city. It was B St. NW. Wisconsin Congressman Henry A. Cooper didn’t feel the name suited a central and important boulevard in the nation’s capital. The Mall was undergoing significant redevelopment and Cooper put forth a ... Read More »
Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington