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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.

The Sad Reality of 1950s Development in D.C.

January 30, 2022October 25, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Demolition of buildings on the corner of 11th Street and Virginia Avenue SW. View northwest over the Agriculture Department Building to the Washington Monument (1959). Garnet W. Jex "Southwest Redevelopment" Slide Collection, HSW.

The progress of 1950s development in D.C. destroyed much of the city. Explore the sad reality of this destructive period in D.C. history with this post from Ghosts of DC.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1950s, Southwest

Uncovering a 1950s Dairy Farm Advertisement in The Washington Post

November 24, 2023October 17, 2013 by ghostsofdc
dairy farm advertisement in 1950

Take a journey with us to uncover a 1950s dairy farm advertisement in The Washington Post. See photos of the farm and recent updates, and find out where it stands today!

Categories Old Ads & Classifieds Tags 1950s, Fairfax County 2 Comments

Never Built: CIA Headquarters in Alexandria

April 27, 2026October 3, 2013 by ghostsofdc

Did you know the CIA’s headquarters was almost built in Alexandria, Virginia? This Washington Post article from 1955 explains what happened.

Categories Lost History Tags 1950s, Alexandria, Politics, Unbuilt Washington 1 Comment

Exploring the Cost of Living in DC from the 1950s to Now

October 2, 2013 by ghostsofdc
1950s Washington

GoDCer Jamie sent in a request to look into the cost-of-living in DC over time and how it has changed since the 1950s. Read our article to find out how much a pound of pork cost in 1952 and compare it to today’s prices!

Categories Historical Events Tags 1950s, Washington Post 1 Comment

Why Is the CIA Called Langley? The History Behind the Name

May 4, 2026October 2, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Aerial view of CIA headquarters campus Langley Virginia

Everyone calls the CIA Langley. But why? The name traces from a Virginia governor, a Shropshire estate, and exit signs that lied for over a decade.

Categories The Best Of, Why Is It Named...? Tags 1800s, 1950s, 1970s, Fairfax County, Politics 5 Comments

The Red Capitol Dome: Photos from the 1950s Restoration

May 22, 2026September 26, 2013 by ghostsofdc
In late 1959 through 1960, the Capitol Dome underwent a significant repair and restoration effort and at the end of 1959 the exterior of the Dome was surrounded by scaffold.

Before the Capitol’s famous white dome was fully restored in 1959, it had taken on a reddish hue from decades of weathering.

Categories Notable People & Places Tags 1950s, 1960s, Capitol Building 2 Comments

Check Out These Photos of Life in DC from January 20th, 1953

September 25, 2013 by ghostsofdc

Take a trip down memory lane and explore the history of DC with these amazing photos from January 20th, 1953. See what life was like in the city decades ago with Ghosts of DC!

Categories Historical Events Tags 1950s, Dwight D. Eisenhower

Washington Senators Almost Move to Los Angeles [VIDEO]

March 20, 2022September 13, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Harmon Killebrew shakes President Eisenhower's hand before a game in 1959 (Calvin Griffith in the middle)

Did you know that the Washington Senators almost moved to Los Angeles?

Categories Lost History Tags 1950s, Baseball, Videos, Washington Senators

The Man vs. Franklin Park: How a Soapbox Speech Ban Helped the D.C. Community in 1951

April 28, 2026August 27, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Franklin Park in 1943

In 1951, the Interior Department banned soapbox orations from Franklin Park in Washington, D.C. after complaints from nearby businesses, hotels, and offices. Learn how this ban helped the community and the history behind it.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1950s, Parks 1 Comment
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