Discover the origins of Rock Creek Park with this topographical map from 1866. Learn more about the Senate Resolution of July 18th, 1866 that led to the creation of this beautiful park.
In 1926, Washingtonians were desperate to escape the unbearable heat. Some took refuge in Rock Creek Park, as seen in this photo of three Washingtonians attempting to beat the heat. Read more about this historic summer in D.C.
140 characters: Unconfirmed reports from the Baltimore Sun stated that Teddy Roosevelt struck a young woman with his riding whip during a ride in Rock Creek Park. Read on to learn the full story.
We are a great nation and Americans in the 1880s were proud of their rapidly growing and dominant country. But how can you truly be a great nation without a national zoo to show off all the wonderful creatures that roam your lands, as well as those of foreign lands? Not only that, how will … Read more
Secretary of the Treasury Franklin MacVeagh was a man that appreciated beauty and the aesthetics of architecture. He was also a clear supporter of urban planning with an eye towards maintaining or enhancing the appeal of a city. Learn about his impact on architecture and urban planning in this article!
I came across a sad and shocking article in the Washington Post from Saturday, July 20th, 1946. Three men jumped to their deaths off of three bridges in Washington.
On Thursday, Samuel Hall, a Pullman porter living at 1327 T St. NW, jumped to his death off the 11th Street Bridge into the Anacotia River. He had been in a taxi with a Mrs. Pearson and her 9-year-old son. The details in the article are scant, but it says that he had been estranged from his wife for three years and she was separated from her husband. They had been arguing earlier in the day about visiting his family in Virginia.
Take a look at this amazing photo from 1921 of some kids cooling off in Rock Creek. It looks like they’re having an awesome time and it’s probably one of those D.C. summer scorchers. Check out the kid in the middle – he looks totally overwhelmed by the water!
If you’ve spent any time in Rock Creek Park, you have seen or crossed over this bridge. Below is a little history on it from a plan documenting the structure in 1995. And to the right is a photo I found of Lansing H. Beach, the man that was in charge of the design and construction of the bridge … a prominent member of D.C. society, as he and his wife make many appearances in the Washington Post society pages of the time. He hobnobbed with an elite circle of senators, congressman and ambassadors.
In 1902 this concrete-steel arch bridge was constructed across Rock Creek on the line of Rock Creek Drive, now known as Beach Drive. The span utilized the patented Melan method of construction and was designed under the general direction of Captain Lansing H. Beach, Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia and member of the Board of Control in charge of Rock Creek National Park. A royalty was paid for the use of this patented technique and contractors Talty and Allen of Washington, D.C. were awarded the job.
So, it seems that the road previously known as Rock Creek Drive was named for Lansing H. Beach (I never knew that). Captain Beach lived in a pretty nice Dupont Circle home at 1327 21st St. NW (according to the 1900 U.S. Census). Also, he retired in 1924 with the rank of Major General (i.e., a two-star general — pretty big deal).
Boulder Bridge, Rock Creek Park – Beach Drive circa 1919
