1968 War Over D.C. Interstate Highways
Why are there no interstate highways cutting through Washington? It’s one of the few cities without a major highway right through it. Learn the history going back to the 1960s.
Lost History
Washington, DC neighborhoods and buildings that aren’t there anymore. Murder Bay, the old Center Market, brownstones erased for federal office blocks.
The Smithsonian Castle Almost Looked Like This in 1846
In 1846, an open design competition could have given Washington a very different Smithsonian Castle. One rejected design became a church. The church became a parking lot.
The Rise and Fall of Herbert Haft’s Columbia Heights Development Agreement
Discover the story of Herbert Haft’s Columbia Heights development agreement, which was canceled after 15 years of litigation and very little construction. Learn how the area has been transformed since then.
The Sad Tale of the Destruction of a Beautiful Old Church in the Name of Progress
What a sad tale of progress – a beautiful old church, destroyed in the name of progress. Read the story of how this once grand building was lost forever, and the impact it had on its community.
It’s a Damn Shame: The Demolition of D.C. from the 1950s to the 1980s
It’s a sad fact that much of D.C. was demolished from the 1950s through the 1980s. Read the full story to learn more about this damn shame and the major influence of Gilded Age capitalist Frank Munsey.
Explore a Proposed National Mall from the Early 1900s
Take a look at what a proposed National Mall could have looked like from the Capitol Building in the early 1900s. See photos and find out more about this fascinating idea.
14th and F Street in 1903: The Old Ebbitt House
A 1903 photograph of 14th and F Street in Washington, D.C., featuring the old Ebbitt House. The site is home to Old Ebbitt Grill today.
Dead Man’s Hollow: A Dark History of Rosslyn and Arlington
Late 19th-century Rosslyn was a vice district of saloons and gambling dens. The ravine known as Dead Man’s Hollow was its most dangerous corner of all.
Original Subway Planned for Downtown D.C. in 1912
Washington DC almost has a subway started in 1912, well before WMATA and Metro opened in 1976. Learn about what almost was built in the District.