These are the best posts from Ghosts of DC, the lost and untold history of Washington, D.C.
Yes, Chain Bridge once had actual chains. Built in 1810, this 22-ton suspension bridge over the Potomac at Little Falls was held up entirely by four iron chains. It also played a tense role in the Civil War, with Union and Confederate troops stationed within shouting distance on opposite ends.
In the English alphabet, the letter J looked too much like the letter I, so Pierre L’Enfant omitted J street in DC.
This is a map from 1935, plotting all the residences housing a juvenile delinquent, according to the Juvenile Court of the District of Columbia.
Where was Hell’s Bottom in Washington, DC and what happened there? Here are three stories from lost history about the long-gone neighborhood.
The Mormon Temple outside DC is full of mystery and intrigue, like the “Surrender Dorothy” graffiti. Learn about the LDS “castle” near Rock Creek.
Learn about the construction of Key Bridge, connecting Georgetown and Rosslyn, from 1917 to 1923. See a photo of the bridge under construction with the Washington Monument in the distance.
Frank Morris was from Washington, DC; a career criminal, he had a high IQ of 133, and was the only person to escape from Alcatraz.
Property in Shaw and Mt. Vernon Square is worth three to four times more than in Dupont Circle. This is a fascinating map from the Library of Congress. Click the map for greater detail and learn more about this amazing piece.
Take a tour of the Dupont Underground and you feel like you are stepping back into 1955. Learn about the history of the Dupont Circle underground station, from its construction in 1948 to its ambitious repurposing project today.
Take a look back in time to 1923 and the Anti-Flirt Club. Learn about the club, their “Anti-Flirt Week”, and their 10 commandments. Bizarre and amazing!
