David Crockett’s Vote Against Indian Removal: The 1830 Stand That Cost Him Congress
On May 26, 1830, the House passed the Indian Removal Bill 102-97. Tennessee’s David Crockett was the only member of his delegation to vote no.
1830s
Washington in the 1830s was a city of contradictions, with the slave trade operating openly in the shadow of the Capitol. The decade also saw the first rumblings of what would become the Smithsonian and a growing debate over slavery that would define the next three decades. These posts dig into antebellum Washington at its most complicated.
Lone Star Diplomacy: Texas’ Ambassadors to the United States Before Annexation
Before Texas was a state it was a country. Eight of its ambassadors worked Washington between 1836 and 1845 to negotiate annexation.
Why Is It Named The Smithsonian?
Did you know our greatest museum was funded by and named for an Englishman who never set foot in the United States? Read up on the origins of the Smithsonian and how it was born in our nation’s capital.
Georgetown in 1830: A Map Showing Street Names Before They Changed
An 1830 map of Georgetown showing the original street names. Wisconsin Avenue was High Street and M Street was Bridge Street.
Washington Monument’s Original Design: A Look at Robert Mills’ Ornate Vision
The Washington Monument we know today was not what Robert Mills designed in 1836. His plan included a colonnade and Roman temple that were stripped out.
Exploring Washington Before the Retrocession of the Western Portion to Virginia
A look at Washington before its retrocession of the western portion to Virginia. Includes a 1835 map of Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, and two counties
Washington DC in 1839: When Sheep and Cows Roamed Pennsylvania Avenue
An 1839 print of Washington, DC showing Pennsylvania Avenue when sheep and cows still grazed along the street.
An 1835 Broadside Condemning the Sale and Keeping of Slaves in Washington, D.C.
An abolitionist broadside from the 1835-36 petition campaign condemning the sale and keeping of slaves in the District of Columbia.
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.