Skip to content
Ghosts of DC

Ghosts of DC

  • The Best Of
  • Neighborhoods
    • Southwest DC
      • Waterfront
    • Maryland
      • Gaithersburg
      • Rockville
      • Bethesda
      • Hyattsville
      • Silver Spring
      • Bladensburg
    • Virginia
      • McLean
      • Falls Church
      • Alexandria
      • Vienna
      • Arlington
    • Southeast DC
      • Congress Heights
      • Navy Yard
      • Capitol Hill
      • Anacostia
    • Northeast DC
      • Trinidad
      • Woodridge
      • Deanwood
      • Brookland
    • Northwest DC
      • Tenleytown
      • Park View
      • Friendship Heights
      • Brightwood
      • Crestwood
      • Sheridan-Kalorama
      • The Palisades
      • Logan Circle
      • Petworth
      • Glover Park
      • Bloomingdale
      • Georgetown
      • Woodley Park
      • Dupont Circle
      • Columbia Heights
      • Cleveland Park
      • Adams Morgan
      • Mt. Pleasant
      • Chevy Chase
      • Cathedral Heights
      • Chinatown
    • Lost Neighborhoods
      • Hell’s Bottom
      • Swampoodle
      • Murder Bay
  • Notable People & Places
    • Places
      • Washington Monument
      • Library of Congress
      • The White House
      • The Capitol Building
      • Dulles Airport
    • People
      • Franklin D. Roosevelt
      • Calvin Coolidge
      • Officer Sprinkle
      • Dwight D. Eisenhower
      • Warren G. Harding
      • William McKinley
      • Abraham Lincoln
      • John F. Kennedy
      • Teddy Roosevelt
      • Woodrow Wilson

Parks

Washington’s park system is one of the most extensive of any American city, with everything from the National Mall to tucked-away neighborhood greens. These posts explore the history of DC’s parks, who built them, what happened in them, and what they used to look like.

The Godey Lime Kilns: Washington D.C.’s Forgotten Industrial Relic

April 27, 2026May 8, 2025 by ghostsofdc
Historic American Buildings Survey Photographer unknown, c. 1938 EXTERIOR FROM SOUTH Copied from print in files of National Capital Region, National Park Service, Washington, D. C. - Godey Lime Kilns (Ruins), Junction of Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

The stone arches near the Kennedy Center are the Godey Lime Kilns, Washington’s last 19th-century industrial ruin.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday, Lost History Tags Anacostia River, Architecture, Landmarks, Parks 2 Comments

Hains Point: How Did It Get Its Name?

April 27, 2026April 8, 2022 by ghostsofdc
Major General Peter C. Haines, Retired

Peter Conover Hains was a U.S. Army Major General who served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. The point carries his name.

Categories Notable People & Places, Why Is It Named...? Tags 1920s, Parks, Tidal Basin, World War I

The Father of Parks: Charles C. Glover and His 50th Wedding Anniversary

April 27, 2026December 26, 2019 by ghostsofdc
Charles C. Glover

Charles C. Glover was a prominent banker, philanthropist, and backer of the City Beautiful movement in Washington during the 1880s-1930s. Read about his 50th wedding anniversary article in the Washington Post and his predictions for the future of the city.

Categories Notable People & Places Tags 1920s, Parks

Aerial View of East Potomac Park and Hains Point – Do You Know Why It’s Called Hains Point?

April 27, 2026March 11, 2015 by ghostsofdc
aerial view of East Potomac Park

Take a look at this aerial view of East Potomac Park and Hains Point. Do you know why it’s called Hains Point? Find out more here!

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1920s, Parks 6 Comments

The Wild Dog of Potomac Park: The Story of Queen, Slain in 1913

April 27, 2026January 6, 2015 by ghostsofdc
Brown bulldog standing on grass

Read the story of Queen, the wild dog of Potomac Park who was slain in 1913. Learn about Queen’s reign of terror over pedestrians and motor car drivers, and the efforts to shoot her that ultimately failed.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1910s, Parks

Exploring the Harvard St. Bridge in Washington, DC

April 27, 2026December 31, 2014 by ghostsofdc
Wide view of the Old Harvard Street Bridge across Rock Creek Park taken from the south (down creek) side. A dirt road with a log fence appears on the right.

Take a look back in time to explore the Harvard St. Bridge in Washington, DC. This bridge crosses Rock Creek Park and has been a part of the city since 1909. See a photo of the old bridge and learn more here.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1900s, Bridges, National Zoo, Parks

Hains Point: A Look Back and a Look Ahead

April 27, 2026August 25, 2014 by ghostsofdc
Hains Point

Explore the changes in Hains Point from 1914 to today through Library of Congress and Google Street View images. See how much the area has changed and discover what remains the same in this look back and look ahead.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1920s, Parks 1 Comment

Check Out Andy’s Amazing Collection of D.C. Imagery on Flickr

April 27, 2026April 21, 2014 by ghostsofdc
1925 Washington Tourist Camp

Andy Moursund has an incredible collection of D.C. imagery on Flickr. View vintage photos of D.C. from the 1920s, iconic landmarks, and more! Check it out now.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1920s, Parks 1 Comment

A Look at Meridian Hill Park Back in 1976 When It Was Pretty Rough

January 3, 2020April 18, 2014 by ghostsofdc
Meridian Hill Park in 1976

Take a look back at Meridian Hill Park in 1976 when it was in a state of disrepair. Now, it’s getting back to being a great place to spend sunny weekends in Washington, DC.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1970s, Meridian Hill Park, Parks 1 Comment
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Page3 Next →
Explore the Archive
The Best Of Old Ads & Classifieds Then and Now Lost History
GoDCers Love Maps From the Crazy Vault Faces & Places of Yesterday If Walls Could Talk
Historical Events Notable People & Places This Day in History Guest Posts
Three Things… A Personal Story Why Is It Named…? Featured
Ghosts of DC© 2012–2026 Ghosts of DC