Digging through Google Books, I found "The Black Code of the District of Columbia in Force September 1st, 1848" - a 122-page book of laws governing all aspects of life and behavior for African-Americans in Washington, D.C. in the 1800's. Read on to learn about the shocking provisions in this book.

Did you know the Commerce Department is built on top of an ancient pirate ghost river? Or that lost alligators once wandered the halls?