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Category: Lost History

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Andre The Giant Almost Played for the Redskins?
Wait, Andre the Giant tried out for the Washington Redskins? Did that really happen? You have to read more to find out the story.
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Howard University Proposes Extending Vermont Avenue in 1919
Vermont Avenue was almost extended all the way to Georgia Avenue near Howard University. See the map of the proposed extension.
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Where is the Original Dupont Circle Statue?
The original statue of Samuel DuPont sat for more than a generation at the center of Dupont Circle. Then it was removed because people thought it was ugly. Read the story to learn more.
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Bartholdi Fountain Almost Moved to Dupont Circle in 1881
The Bartholdi Fountain on Capitol Hill was almost moved to Dupont Circle at the request of James Blaine. Until history intervened.
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Hamilton "Ghost" Circle and Fairview Heights Near the Cathedral
The neighborhood surrounding the circle was once dubbed Fairview Heights, which no longer seems to appear on any contemporary maps.
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The Kennedy Center Could Have Looked Like This
The Kennedy Center could have looked a bit like the Watergate does today with this very curvy design proposal. This drawing was done by Edward Durell Stone, the architect who would design the final building.
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Early Rejected Designs for the National Air and Space Museum
In 1958, President Eisenhower approved plans for a National Air Museum. See some of the fascinating and beautiful designs that didn't make it.
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Mid-1960s Vision for Washington's Metro System
The proposals were published to convince transit officials that the 19-mile system authorized by Congress within the city - part of a 25-mile network extending into the suburbs -would be inadequate by 1985.
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Abandoned Capitol Traction Company Powerhouse in 1967
These haunting 1967 photos show the inside and outside of the old Capitol Traction Company Powerhouse, previously located on the Georgetown waterfront.
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Hoover Field: Before the Pentagon and National Airport
There used to be an airport where the Pentagon stands today. Washington-Hoover Airport operated from 1933 to 1941, replaced by National Airport.
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Old D.C. Council Campaign Posters
Not everyone wins an election. Here's a sample of some people who ran for D.C. Council and didn't make it.
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Amazing 1870s Railroad Photos of Washington
These 1870s photos are incredible, showing the District just following the Civil War. Click on them for more details.
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Never-Built Ulysses Grant Memorial Bridge
This most incredible image shows what the Ulysses Grant Memorial Bridge would have liked like today. It would have been where the current Arlington Memorial Bridge is today.
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Almost-Built Highways of Washington, DC
Why doesn't 395 cut through Washington, DC? This is the history of highways in DC.
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The Story of How Reno Road in North Cleveland Park Almost Became Washington Avenue
Learn the fascinating story of how Reno Road in North Cleveland Park almost became Washington Avenue in honor of the west coast state. Find out why the proposal was opposed by Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada.
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Proposed D.C. Subway During World War II
Near the end of World War II, there was an interesting proposal to build a subway in the District to alleviate post-war traffic.
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Stunning Old Raleigh Hotel, Lost Forever
You’re going to love this amazing photo of a long-lost building in our city. You’re looking at the old Raleigh Hotel, formerly located at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. It’s so sad that these iconic structures were taken down. Source: Library of Congress
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1877 Drawing of Proposed Capitol Modifications
Proposed renovations of the Capitol Building from the 1870s. Achitectural drawing for alterations to the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. West elevation.
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Proposed Southside Freeway in Arlington: What Could Have Been
This post explores the proposed Southside Freeway in Arlington which never came to be. Learn about the 1960 proposal, the public opinion, and why the highway never came to fruition in this post.
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Uncovering the Sad Truth: Slave Pens Were Everywhere in Washington in the 1860s
Uncovering the sad truth of the past, Slave Pens existed in and around all of Washington in the 1860s. This photo shows one of those in Alexandria during the 1860s. Learn more at the Library of Congress.
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Remembering the Republic Theatre at 13th and U St.
Take a look back at the Republic Theatre on the north side of the 1300 block of U St. Opened in 1921, it was unfortunately demolished in 1976 to make way for the new Metro. See a photo of the theater from 1945-46!
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Dietz's German Beer Hall on 7th Street
Long gone are the days of the German beer hall in D.C., though some would argue that Brickskeller (ahem, Bier Baron) remains as one of the better ones. Well, it was great back in the day when there was little to no beer scene in the city a decade or two ago, but now, you’re almost always about 100 yards from a great beer joint. Before World War I, a very popular bar was Dietz’s Rathskeller...
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Uncovering the Lease Requirements for a New Baseball Stadium in D.C.
Learn about the lease requirements for a new baseball stadium in D.C., as revealed in a document from the 1950s. Follow the history of the Washington Senators and the legacy of Clark Griffith in this fascinating story.
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A Closer Look at the Old State Department Building During the Civil War
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.
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This is the Oldest Known Photo of the U.S. Department of State
See the oldest known photo of the U.S. Department of State, taken in 1857. Learn more about the old State Department building before it was located in Foggy Bottom and even before it was located in the State, War, and Navy Building next to the White House.
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Uncovering the Lost History of Old Saloon Warwick's
Uncovering the lost history of Warwick's, an old saloon located at 13th and Penn. Take a look at the photo of the saloon, the 1897 raid by the Secret Service, and the 1903 map of the area.
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The Baltimore Sun Discusses the Possibility of Retroceding Georgetown to Maryland in 1839
In January 1839, The Baltimore Sun discussed the possibility of retroceding Georgetown to Maryland. Read about it here, plus check out an 1835 map of Washington D.C. to get the full picture.
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Amazing 1950s Film Footage of D.C. Streetcars
This is some awesome footage of the old streetcar system here in D.C. from the 1950s. What’s really great is seeing some recognizable spots in the city, like the Dupont Underground, East Capitol St., and of course Union Station. The footage is quite long, but skip around a little and you’ll see some great stuff.
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The History and Legacy of the Godey Lime Kilns: Exploring Washington D.C.'s Industrial Past
Explore the historic Godey Lime Kilns, built in 1864 to produce lime and plaster for Washington D.C. Added to National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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Proposed Three Sisters Bridge Across the Potomac
What happened to the Three Sisters Bridge in Washington, DC and why was it never built?
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