In the 1950s, the top entertainers in the country performed on 14th Street NW. By the early 1980s, it was known as Washington's "combat zone," lined with topless bars and adult bookstores. By 1986, it was rubble. What happened in between reveals how gentrification works when moral crusades and economic interests perfectly align.
Check out this fascinating old stereographic photo of the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. Learn more about its history from John DeFerrari's blog and Ghosts of DC. Explore now!
Hazy blue smoke surrounds the origins of the annual Fourth of July Smoke-In. Though it now takes place in Lafayette Square, across the barricaded street from the White House, it began on the Mall.
Get a better look at the Old State Department Building during the Civil War with this amazing photo. Click on it for some amazing details and find out why there are a large number of wooden boxes at the main entrance to the building.
Take a trip back in time with this fascinating footage from the 1950s of Washington D.C.! See recognizable spots like the Dupont Underground, East Capitol St., and Union Station. A must-watch for any history buff!
At 16th and K St. NW, there once sat a three story Victorian town home, the site of corrupt political dealings within the Harding administration, This is its story.
Take a look back at the amusing sign posted at the National Zoo in 1943 and the history behind the lion statues in the opening credits of House of Cards. Source: Library of Congress.
Explore an incredible old map from 1887 of Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights. See old street names and the Columbia College Subdivision. Click through to see greater details.
Take a look back in time with this amazing photo from the 1880s-1910s. We can't quite tell the direction of this shot, but we think it's looking east toward Mt. Pleasant. Source: Library of Congress.
In this post, we take a closer look at the origin of REO Speedwagon's band name. It was derived from a 1919 advertisement in The Washington Post for an early precursor to the pick-up truck. Read on to learn more trivia and watch a great video!
Take a journey into America's past with this old film from the U.S. National Archives. Keep an eye out for landmarks and share your finds in the comments. Discover our nation's history today!
