On November 21, 1929, a boiler explosion in the basement of the McCrory five-and-dime store in Washington, D.C. killed six people and injured dozens more. The legacy of the McCrory disaster serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the need to remain vigilant in upholding high standards of safety and prevention.
Did you know our greatest museum was funded by and named for an Englishman who never set foot in the United States? Read up on the origins of the Smithsonian and how it was born in our nation's capital.
Explore an old 1924 advertisement from the Evening Star for the Wardman Construction Company in Washington D.C. and see what the home is worth today. Plus a look at the house and the Lighting Educational Committee.
Take a trip back in time 105 years and explore the Aqueduct Bridge as seen in a cool old photo. Discover what the bridge looked like before it was demolished after the construction of the Key Bridge.
Take a look back at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. circa 1931. See the traffic lights, traffic-cop gazebo, and streetcar switch tower in this amazing old photo. Source: Shorpy.
Discover a rare photo of Walter Johnson and Gabby Street at the Detroit Public Library. Read the story behind it and listen to a 1939 radio broadcast of Walter Johnson calling a game. Source: Detroit Public Library.
Take a look at this fun old photo taken on December 14th, 1923. It shows a large group of boys who were Congressional pages on both sides of the aisle, battling it out with snowballs. Wouldn't it be great if Members of Congress took this tactic to solve gridlock today?
Take a look back in time to explore DC in 1903 with this map of the Department of State! See the dog pound at 23rd and C St. and the Herdic-Phaeton building at 19th and E St.
Take a look back at Blair House, before it became government property in 1942. See a photo of the residence taken around 1918, when it was still a private home. Source: Library of Congress.
Take a look back at Washington DC's history through a fascinating 1839 print. From lost sheep and cows on Pennsylvania Ave to the bustling metropolis we know today, this print offers a unique glimpse into the past of this iconic city.
