A Look Back: A Photo of a Red Cross Mobile Canteen from World War II, 1942
Take a look back at a photo of a World War II Red Cross mobile canteen, taken in 1942. See the image and learn more from the Library of Congress.
1940s
World War II reshaped Washington completely. The Pentagon rose across the river in just 16 months, the federal workforce exploded, and the city became the command center for the Allied war effort. Housing was impossibly scarce, rationing was everywhere, and Washington hummed with wartime urgency from 1941 to 1945.
How Conduit Road Became MacArthur Boulevard: The 1942 Story
MacArthur Boulevard used to be called Conduit Road, named for the Washington Aqueduct conduit running 12 miles beneath it. Here’s how it got renamed in March 1942, while General Douglas MacArthur was still defending Corregidor.
Visibility Zero Unless You Lend Your Binoculars to the Navy: Exploring the Posters of the WPA
Explore the unique posters of the Work Projects Administration (WPA) from 1936 to 1943, including the one below which shows the Navy asking to borrow your binoculars to help prevent attacks at sea. View 907 digitized posters at the Library of Congress!
Uncovering the Mystery of the 1940 Treasury Target Range
Join us as we uncover the mystery of the 1940 Treasury Target Range in Washington, D.C. We’ll explore the range’s shielded lights, electrically operated targets, sound proofing, and more. Learn the history behind this fascinating piece of history.
Uncovering History: A Look at the 1944 Easter Monday Egg Roll at the White House
Explore a piece of history with us as we uncover a photo of the 1944 Easter Monday Egg Roll at the White House. See the photo and learn more here!
A Look Back: An Ad from The Washington Post December 31st, 1949
Take a look back in time with this advertisement from The Washington Post, December 31st, 1949. Click on the image for a larger version.
Mayor D’Alesandro Opposes Building an Airport in Virginia: A Look Back at the 1949 Washington Post Article
In 1949, Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro opposed building an airport in Virginia to relieve Washington’s air traffic. Check out this article from The Washington Post to learn more about the story
Duke vs. GWU Football Game, November 13th, 1948 – A Completely Lopsided 62-0 Victory for Duke!
On November 13th, 1948, Duke and GWU met in a football game that was lopsided to say the least. Duke won by an incredible 62-0 score – read on to learn more about the game!
Saving History – The Story of Davidson Modern Movers and the Library of Congress in December 1941
In December 1941, as a precautionary measure, the Library of Congress transported 5,000 boxes of materials to 3 locations of “relative security.” We can thank Davidson Modern Movers for saving one set of these documents. Read the story of this amazing event here!