Friendship Heights Shopping Circa 1959
This lovely old image shows Lord & Taylor way back in 1959. Check out the beautiful old cars and the lousy parking jobs.
1950s
Postwar Washington was prosperous and anxious in equal measure. The suburbs of Virginia and Maryland exploded with development as families left the city, while downtown hummed with Cold War government activity. The civil rights movement was gaining momentum, and the city’s neighborhoods were beginning a long transformation.
Glenn Martin’s Predictions for the Future of Aviation in 1953
Take a look at the predictions made by Glenn Martin in 1953 for the future of aviation. See how different today is from what he envisioned, including atomic-powered planes, helicopters, and fully automatic flight operations.
Exploring 1950s Washington, D.C. Through Film Footage
Discover Washington, D.C. from 1950s through film footage and narrative, including George Washington’s slaves “living happily in their quarters.” Watch the video to explore this fascinating era.
Washington, D.C. in 1951: The USGS Topographic Map
The U.S. Geological Survey published this topographic map of Washington, D.C. in 1951 — the year the city hit its all-time population of 802,000. Every neighborhood is packed. The highways that would displace tens of thousands of residents hadn’t been built yet.
The Story of How Reno Road in North Cleveland Park Almost Became Washington Avenue
Learn the fascinating story of how Reno Road in North Cleveland Park almost became Washington Avenue in honor of the west coast state. Find out why the proposal was opposed by Senator Howard Cannon of Nevada.
1952 Washington UFO Sightings: Jets Scrambled Over the Capitol
In July 1952, mystery lights appeared in the night sky over Washington, including over the Capitol. Radar operators saw blips. Pilots saw lights too.
Raleigh Hotel: 71 Years on Pennsylvania Avenue
The gold-and-white top-floor ballroom where Buddy Holly danced for Washington teens on live TV. Then a wrecking crew in 1964.
Washington, D.C. from the Air, 1950: Shot by the U.S. Air Force
In 1950, the U.S. Air Force captured Washington, D.C. using a horizon-to-horizon camera — a wide-angle aerial technique that shows the full sweep of the city before the interstate highway system changed it.
Reliving a Special Moment: President Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth in a Lincoln Cosmopolitan, 1957
Relive a special moment in history with this wonderful old photo of President Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth in a Lincoln Cosmopolitan in 1957. See the three photos taken that day here.