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.
In September 1925, six 2,000-gallon gasoline tanks exploded in Rosslyn, sending sheets of blazing fire in every direction — and two firefighters had to leap from an adjoining tank seconds before it blew. The blaze drew 10,000 spectators and took nearly two hours to bring under control.
This 1852 dollar bill was issued by the Bank of the United States, a decade after the bank’s charter expired. Here’s the story behind the note and why the bank that printed it technically no longer existed.
Explore the crazy crime story of the 1922 gem thief who held hundreds at bay in Washington, D.C. near the Gayety Theatre. Read the full story and see a 1921 map of the area.
In 1900, a college prank in Georgetown University nearly went wrong. Students attempted to scare a stable attendant, but a horse was stolen and the police were called. Read more about this bizarre incident on Ghosts of DC.
Read about the robbery of Frederick Douglass’ former home at Cedar Hill in Anacostia, Washington D.C. in 1905. Learn more about this historic event from The Washington Post and other sources.
In January 1884, a record cold wave drove Washington temperatures 24 degrees below average. The Evening Star reported frozen pipes and citywide misery.
We came across an article in The Washington Post from August 17th, 1919, detailing an explosion in Foggy Bottom. Local officials were unable to identify the source of the explosion and an interesting theory was presented by others interviewed in the article. Was it a meteor or a bomb outrage?
Did you know that in 1919, a group of ladies played baseball on the Mall? Check out this incredible photo from the Library of Congress!
Take a look at these old personal ads from the 1880s. Get a glimpse of the past and see just how odd and intriguing these ads are. From The Evening Star, these are definitely bizarre!
