Dead Man’s Hollow: A Dark History of Rosslyn and Arlington
Late 19th-century Rosslyn was a vice district of saloons and gambling dens. The ravine known as Dead Man’s Hollow was its most dangerous corner of all.
Crime
Uncovering the Life of White House Police Officer Roland Ford
Digging through the Library of Congress archives, we uncovered the life of Roland Ford, a White House police officer. Learn more about his life and his connection to President Roosevelt in this post.
Nubby Nuckols: The DC Bookmaker Who Shot Himself in 1938
He was forty-one, the king of bookmaking in DC, and out on bail. Two days later he was on the floor in his maroon robe.
The Story Behind the Story: How a Photo Made a Career for Bill O’Leary
Sometimes the story behind the story is almost as sensational as the original news. Learn the amazing tale of Bill O’Leary and how he captured the infamous photo of Marion Barry in handcuffs outside his home in southeast DC.
The 1913 Washington Post Story of the Runaway Horse and Carriage
A wild story from The Washington Post in 1913 about a runaway horse & carriage in Washington DC. Read the full story, plus learn more about George Bowman, the liveryman, and Harry L. McCormick, who rescued the baby.
The McCrory Disaster: A 1929 Boiler Blast on 7th Street That Killed Six in Seconds
On November 21, 1929, a 500-gallon boiler under the sidewalk at McCrory’s five-and-dime on 7th Street NW exploded at 1:32 in the afternoon, killing six and lifting the concrete forty feet into the air.
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!
Gem Thief Holds Hundreds at Bay: A Crazy Crime Story at the Gayety Theatre
Explore the crazy crime story of the 1922 gem thief who held hundreds at bay in Washington, D.C. near the Gayety Theatre. Read the full story and see a 1921 map of the area.
Exploring the Old B&P Railroad Station Where President Garfield Was Assassinated
Take a journey back in time and explore the old B&P Railroad Station where President Garfield was assassinated. View an image of the station from the 1880s