Clarence Chesterfield Howerton, ‘Major Mite’: From DC to Hollywood
In December 1922, nine-year-old Clarence Howerton visited President Harding at the White House. He stood 28 inches tall and weighed 18 pounds.
1920s
Washington in the 1920s was a city in full swing. The decade brought jazz clubs, speakeasies, and a building boom that filled in the last great gaps in the city’s streetscape. Calvin Coolidge’s Washington was prosperous and busy, even as Prohibition tried to shut down the good times. These posts explore the capital’s roaring decade.
The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
A deep dive into a 1923 newspaper reveals America struggled with familiar issues like racism, prohibition, and budget woes amid intense social change. Comparing eras shows our past holds lessons to guide us through modern tumult.
Can You Find These Homes Today? I Did Some Sleuthing and This is What I Found
Can you find the homes shown in this 1920 Alexandria real estate advertisement? I did some sleuthing and this is what I found. Take a look at the Google Street View and see what you think! Plus, a super random historical context about George Gipp.
Crandall’s Metropolitan Theater: Coolest Theater South of the North Pole
Harry Crandall’s Metropolitan Theater opened at 9th and E NW in 1918, hosted DC’s first talkie, and was demolished in 1968. Here’s its story.
9th and G Streets NW in 1922: What the Metro Center Area Looked Like 100 Years Ago
A detailed 1922 photograph and map showing the area around today’s Metro Center at 9th and G Streets NW, when it looked very different.
Melvin Jones, Age 5, Punctured His Own Heart with Scissors in 1925
In 1925, five-year-old Melvin Jones punctured his heart with scissors. Washington doctors saved his life in a surgery that made national headlines.
Capturing Timeless Beauty: A Look Back at the 1922 Annual Beauty Contest at the Washington Bathing Beach
Step back in time to the 1922 Annual Beauty Contest at the Washington Bathing Beach. Explore the stunning winners and fashion trends of the era.
Bathing suit police and the segregated Tidal Basin beach
In June 1922 a Washington cop knelt on the sand of the Tidal Basin with a tape measure pressed against a woman’s thigh. He was checking how far her swimsuit climbed above the knee.
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.