Posted In Faces & Places of Yesterday

Whitehurst Freeway / Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway, Washington, District of Columbia, DC
The Duo Who Built D.C.’s First Freeway: Archie Alexander, Maurice Repass, and the Whitehurst Story
In 1949, Washington opened its first elevated freeway—but the real story is the interracial engineering duo behind it. Discover how Archie Alexander and Maurice Repass built the Whitehurst Freeway and quietly broke barriers in Jim Crow-era America.
Historic American Buildings Survey Photographer unknown, c. 1938 EXTERIOR FROM SOUTH Copied from print in files of National Capital Region, National Park Service, Washington, D. C. - Godey Lime Kilns (Ruins), Junction of Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway, Washington, District of Columbia, DC
The Godey Lime Kilns: Washington D.C.’s Forgotten Industrial Relic
Explore the history of the Godey Lime Kilns—19th-century ovens that helped build D.C.—from their rise, decline, and preservation in Foggy Bottom.
Brickskeller 1980s basement bar
The Brickskeller: Dupont's Legendary Basement of Beers
Brickskeller was an iconic DC institution that many locals remember fondly. Learn about its slow demise and the beer renaissance that arrived in DC, as well as a look back at the 1957 advertisement for its opening.
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Cook & Stoddard Company: Cadillac's Glory Days in Downtown Washington
Learn the history of luxury automaker Cadillac's first major dealer showroom in downtown Washington DC. The Cook & Stoddard Company location on Connecticut Avenue was the go-to destination for politician bigwigs, businessmen, and auto enthusiasts to experience new Cadillac models in their prime from 1912 to the late 1920s.
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The Silver Sightseer: Washington D.C.’s Air-Conditioned Tourist Trolley
The Silver Sightseer streetcar gave cool, narrated tours of Washington D.C.'s famous landmarks in the late 1950s. Read about this one-of-a-kind, air-conditioned trolley that was specially decorated before it tragically burned down years later when the streetcar system closed.
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Severine G. Leoffler: The Man Who Fed 1919 D.C. with His Iconic Liberty Lunches
Step back in time with this captivating 1919 photo of Leoffler's Liberty Lunch stand in Washington, D.C., where just 20 cents could buy government workers a box lunch filled with surprises. Discover the story of Severine G. Leoffler's entrepreneurial spirit in the early days of street food.
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Outlaw Biker Gangs Bring Violence to Arlington’s Streets in 1966
When motorcycle gangs roared through idyllic 1960s Arlington wielding guns and attitude, this quiet suburb transformed into a hotbed of biker brawls, babes, and cop-defying crime sprees.
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The Whitelaw Hotel: Excellence in Segregated Washington
Washington D.C.’s historic Whitelaw Hotel hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway during the segregation era when it opened in 1919 as a luxurious refuge for black travelers. Built by black visionaries like John W. Lewis and Isaiah T. Hatton, the Whitelaw's storied rise, fall, and rebirth embodies the struggles and achievements of African Americans in the capital.
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St. Elmo’s Bar in Georgetown: The Real Story Behind the Iconic Film and The Tombs
Discover the real-life inspiration for St. Elmo’s Bar from the iconic 1985 movie. Georgetown’s The Tombs played a starring role in shaping this classic spot.
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Do You Remember Peoples Drug? A Nostalgic Look Back at a Regional Pharmacy Icon
So do you have fond memories of Peoples Drug stores? Did you have a regular Peoples Drug you visited? Share your recollections of this classic pharmacy chain that served so many communities over its long lifetime. It may be gone, but Peoples Drug remains a nostalgic part of history for many.

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