Why Is the CIA Called Langley? The History Behind the Name
Everyone calls the CIA Langley. But why? The name traces from a Virginia governor, a Shropshire estate, and exit signs that lied for over a decade.
The Best Of
The Ghosts of DC posts readers come back to. The Bunny Man, Murder Bay, the Iran Embassy, the Reston origin story, and the rest of the ones that keep getting shared.
Why is Washington, DC Called the District of Columbia?
The name ‘District of Columbia’ was chosen on September 9, 1791, to honor both George Washington and Christopher Columbus. Neither was present for the ceremony.
Why Is It Called Chain Bridge? The 1810 Suspension Bridge That Actually Had Chains
The 1810 Chain Bridge at Little Falls hung from 22 tons of iron chain. None of its successors since 1840 have actually had chains.
Why Is There No J Street in Washington, DC?
Washington’s street grid runs A, B, C… I, K, L. There is no J Street, and the John Jay rivalry story is wrong. The real reason is 18th-century typography.
What Is The History of Hell’s Bottom?
Hell’s Bottom was a rough DC neighborhood around 12th and Q NW. In November 1889, three men died in a shootout at Bob Brown’s saloon.
Washington DC Mormon Temple: History of the Beltway’s Six-Spire Landmark
Six spires of Alabama marble, 288 feet tall. The Washington DC Mormon Temple opened near Kensington, Maryland in 1974. Shortly after, someone painted “Surrender Dorothy” on a nearby Beltway overpass.
Three Stories About the Department of Commerce Building
A mile of hallways, 3,700 radiators weighing 420 tons, and a basement aquarium running since 1932. That’s the Commerce Department.
Frank Morris: From DC Foster Homes to the Great Alcatraz Escape
Frank Morris grew up in DC foster homes with a 133 IQ. In 1962, he and two accomplices vanished from Alcatraz. No bodies were ever found.
Sharks in the Potomac River: Bull Sharks and the 1911 Scare
In 1911, Alexandria’s rivermen swore a 15-foot shark was climbing into their boats. The real Potomac shark is smaller, and it is a bull.