History of the Drinking Age in Washington, D.C.
When did DC raise the drinking age to 21? The story goes back to 1984 with Ronald Reagan, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, and highways.
1980s
What was Washington, D.C. like in the 1980s? Take a look at our great posts with stories, people, photos, and history about the District from the eighties.
The Strange Story of the White House Secret Service Guard Who Robbed a Bank
Read the strange story of the White House Secret Service guard who robbed a Citizens National Bank branch in Laurel in 1981. We came across the article and the sentencing in The Baltimore Sun. Come read this bizarre story from the 1980s!
Exploring a Metro Map Done with Braille – What Date is This?
Explore a Metro map done with braille and discover its date. This map stops at Silver Spring, so it’s some time before 1990, when Forest Glen was built. Find out more in this blog post.
An Aerial View of Federal Triangle and the Navy Memorial Under Construction
Get a bird’s eye view of Washington, D.C. with this aerial shot of Federal Triangle and the Navy Memorial under construction. Image taken during the 1980s.
25 Years Later: A Look at an Old Real Estate Ad From 1988
Take a look back in time to an old classified advertisement from The Washington Post from exactly 25 years ago. See what homes were available and the interest rates that were charged in 1988.
Take a Trip Through Memory Lane with this 1981 Apartment Listings Page from The Washington Post
Take a trip down memory lane with this 1981 apartment listings page from The Washington Post. Check out the prices and see if you recognize any of the addresses!
Building the DC Metro: Vintage Construction Photos
Vintage photos from Metro’s own archives document the decade-long construction of the Washington subway system before it opened in 1976.
Maya Lin’s Winning Design Concept for the Vietnam Memorial
In 1981, Maya Lin won the contest to design the Vietnam Memorial at the age of just 21. Learn how her abstract design concept was sketched by Paul Stevenson Oles and became a powerful memorial in Washington, DC.
A Letter from Bill Clinton to Ronald Reagan in 1988
Uncover the interesting history between Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan when we dug up this letter from 1988 when Bill Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas at the National Archives.
Remembering the Redskins’ Glory Days: Hail to RGIII and the Washington Redskins!
Take a nostalgic look back at the Redskins’ heyday and the hope for a brighter future with Robert Griffin III. Hail to the Washington Redskins!