Unraveling the Mystery Behind a Complicated Traffic Signal in Washington, D.C. (1949)

Published August 8, 2012

Take a look at this 1949 photo from the Library of Congress' archives: a complicated traffic signal with signs for "Walk," "Don't Walk," "No Right Turn," and "Thru Only." How did this signal attempt to uncomplicate Washington, D.C. traffic? Read on to find out!

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I came across this photo in the Library of Congress’ archives. It’s clear that these traffic signs are completely unclear. How the hell do you make sense of this?

"Walk," "Don't Walk," "No Right Turn," "Thru Only": a complicated traffic signal to uncomplicate Washington, D.C., traffic, 1949. 306-PS-49-2682. (National Archives) — “Walk,” “Don’t Walk,” “No Right Turn,” “Thru Only”: a complicated traffic signal to uncomplicate Washington, D.C., traffic, 1949. 306-PS-49-2682. (National Archives)

From the Lorstan Photographers studio in the background, it is somewhere on F St. NW, probably in the 1950 (a guess). In the 1940s, Lorstan was located at 1429 F St. and in the 1950s, their address moved to 1119 F St. If you know a little more about this location, please feel free to comment below.