Why Is the CIA Called Langley? The History Behind the Name
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.
1970s
Washington in the 1970s was a city reinventing itself. Home rule arrived in 1973, giving DC its first elected mayor. Metro opened in 1976, remaking how the region moved. Watergate consumed the political establishment for two years. And neighborhoods that had been devastated by the 1968 riots slowly started to find their footing again.
The Dresden at 2126 Connecticut Ave. NW: A Look Back at the Building’s History
Take a look back at the history of The Dresden at 2126 Connecticut Ave. NW, from its 1975 condominium advertisement to the obituary of Princess Cantacuzene to a 1948 rent hike. Learn more about this grande dame of Washington!
The Unfortunate Demolition of the Ugly, Brutalist, Soviet-Looking Dunbar High School Built in the 1970s
Take a look at the unfortunate demolition of the ugly, brutalist, Soviet-looking Dunbar High School built in the 1970s. Here’s an article we dug up from the Washington Post, printed on April 13th, 1977.
Giant Food in 1979: What Groceries Cost in Washington DC
In 1979, a cart full of groceries at Giant Food in Washington DC cost a fraction of today’s prices. Here is what things cost at the checkout line.
A Metropolitan Policeman Arrested for Armed Robbery in Washington D.C. in 1972
In March 1972, a metropolitan policeman was arrested in Washington D.C. and charged with the armed robbery of a practical nurse at the George Washington University Hospital. Read the incredible story here!
Exploring the Connecticut Inn Motel – A Look Back at 4400 Connecticut Ave. NW in 1973
Take a look back at 4400 Connecticut Ave. NW in 1973 with this postcard from the Connecticut Inn Motel. See what the building looks like today and explore what has changed over the years.
The Sad History of L’Enfant Plaza in D.C.
L’Enfant Plaza in Washington D.C. has a sad history. It was once a vibrant part of the city, but it was bulldozed in the 1960s as part of an urban renewal program. Learn more about this unfortunate chapter of D.C. history.
A 1977 Photograph of Union Station in Washington, DC
A photograph from 1977 shows Union Station in Washington, DC before its restoration, when the surrounding area was far less developed.
DC Home Rule: The 1970 Proposal to Cede Washington to Maryland
In 1970, Congress debated a proposal that would have handed most of Washington DC back to Maryland. Here is what that plan looked like and why it never happened.