Ghosts of DCThe lost and untold stories of Washington

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Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin was created in the 1880s as part of a land reclamation project that transformed the marshy flats south of the Mall into usable ground. It has been home to the Jefferson Memorial since 1943 and the famous cherry trees since 1912, but these posts look beyond the landmarks to the Tidal Basin’s history as a working flood control reservoir and the site of Washington’s most beloved public swimming beach.

6 stories
Major General Peter C. Haines, RetiredHains Point: Its Namesake and the Making of East Potomac Park13 min readEpisodeBathing suit police and the segregated Tidal Basin beach9 min readView looking east from the middle of a frozen Tidal Basin upon which many individuals are walking or skating. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is visible in the distance.Frozen Tidal Basin: Walking and Skating on the Ice in DC1 min read

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Washington, D.C. Sunday along the Tidal BasinSunday at the Tidal Basin in July 19421 min readJapanese lantern stone statue in West Potomac ParkCherry Blossoms in DC: Honoring a Gift from the Mayor of Tokyo2 min read"Auto wreck. December 31, 1923." Continuing this week's theme of vehicular mishaps on (and off) the roads of Washington, D.C. On New Year's Eve, this car was in the drink. See the comments for details about this fatal accident in the Tidal Basin. National Photo Company Collection glass negative.Auto Wreck in the Tidal Basin: Tragic New Year’s Eve Mishap Claims Two Lives2 min read
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