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From the Crazy Vault

The strangest stories from Washington, DC history. Hoaxes, scandals, freak accidents, and a few you’ll want to read twice to make sure they’re real.

Man Crashes Truck Through White House Gate

April 27, 2026March 21, 2022 by ghostsofdc
White House northwest gate

Doyle Allen Hicks wanted to warn President Kennedy of the coming communist takeover of the country. Find out what happened after he drove his truck through the White House gates.

Categories From the Crazy Vault, Notable People & Places Tags 1960s, Crime, The White House 1 Comment

Claude Grahame-White’s Daring Landing at the White House in 1910

November 9, 2022February 24, 2022 by ghostsofdc

Witness the incredible feat of aviation pioneer Claude Grahame-White as he lands his biplane on West Executive Avenue next to the White House in 1910. Read the amazing story and see the photos here!

Categories From the Crazy Vault, Notable People & Places Tags 1910s, The White House

Criminal Automobiles: A Letter to the Editor

November 9, 2022October 26, 2021 by ghostsofdc

The most practical remedy is to establish government dispensaries for limited sales to good citizens who are not drunkards. This will eventually be done.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1920s, cars, Prohibition

Prohibition Officer Charged With Drunk Driving

November 9, 2022September 7, 2020 by ghostsofdc
Senator Boies Penrose wrecks his Winton Six

A rum squad MPD prohibition officer was arrested for drunk driving in 1930. Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1930s, Prohibition

About Brookland’s Cuckold’s Delight Subdivision

November 1, 2023August 31, 2020 by ghostsofdc
Cuckold's Delight near Brookland

Why would somebody name a subdivision Cuckold’s Delight? We can’t think of a more bizarre name considering what it means.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1900s, Brookland

World War I “Bombing” on Wisconsin Ave.

November 9, 2022December 23, 2019 by ghostsofdc
World War I - doughboys

Many don’t know the extent of chemical warfare experiment that were conducted on and near the university grounds during the Great War.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1910s, World War I

Dulles Airport’s 1970 Hijacking and $100 Million Ransom

May 4, 2026September 3, 2019 by ghostsofdc

On June 4, 1970, a Phoenix bread truck driver hijacked a TWA jet to Dulles and demanded $100 million from the Supreme Court over a $471.78 IRS dispute.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1970s, Dulles Airport

Glenn Martin’s Predictions for the Future of Aviation in 1953

December 26, 2022May 2, 2019 by ghostsofdc

Take a look at the predictions made by Glenn Martin in 1953 for the future of aviation. See how different today is from what he envisioned, including atomic-powered planes, helicopters, and fully automatic flight operations.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1950s, Aviation

What Is Nestoring? The Doctor Behind D.C.’s Slowest Verb

November 9, 2022April 23, 2019 by ghostsofdc
Traffic on I-66

On October 1, 1984, an FDA doctor wrote a letter explaining why he drove the speed limit in the left lane. The reaction lasted years.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1980s, cars, Notable People
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