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Tidal Basin

Washington, D.C. Sunday along the Tidal Basin

Tidal Basin Canoeing During World War II

During the dark early days of World War II, people in the city of Washington still found time to relax on weekends. This photo was taken on a Sunday in July 1942 by John Collier. In the background you can...
View 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.

Ice Skating on the Tidal Basin

Would you do this today? I don’t even know if you could. I can’t remember the last time it was frozen completely solid. Source: Dig DC
Japanese lantern stone statue in West Potomac Park

Japan Donates Cherry Trees to DC

We’re back to a few days of cold, nasty weather. This seems like a good time to think back to the gorgeous weekend we just had, and talk about cherry blossoms. In 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, gave about...
"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.

Don’t Drink and Drive in 1923

The driver of this car did and ended up in the Tidal Basin. The car made it out but two men did not. A third, the driver did. Below is a story from the Washington Post about the wreck. Essige...
East Potomac Golf Club (East Potomac Park), Washington, D.C., aerial view from above Haines Point looking north toward the Mall (Library of Congress)

View of East Potomac Park From the Air (1935)

Here is a great old photograph of East Potomac Park and Hains Point (which we learned about yesterday). This was taken by an airplane (obviously) from the photo section of Bolling Field. You can clearly see the golf course, the...
intersection of Potomac and Anacostia Rivers as mapped by Peter Hains in1891

Hains Point: How Did It Get Its Name?

Hains point is named for Peter Conover Hains. That was easy. You would know that if you checked Wikipedia, so I’m not really adding any value with this post. But if you go down there and enjoy the park, you...
Potomac bathing beauties (1920)

Potomac Bathing Beach Beauties

These ladies look like they’re having a great time hanging out at the old Tidal Basin bathing beach. That would be an absolutely nasty place to swim today. Thanks Shorpy! Related articles Bathing Suit Police at the Tidal Basin (ghostsofdc.org)...
Cherry blossoms featured

1944 Cherry Blossom Festival Film Footage

It seems like this the Cherry Blossom Festival is a really long way away … especially after this weekends crappy weather. So, in the hopes of bringing a little faux spring to your week, here is a video from the...
Beach Policeman (1922)

Bathing Suit Police at the Tidal Basin

Here’s an amazing shot I found on Shorpy (what an amazing site), taken at the Tidal Basin bathing beach in 1922. The photograph is Washington police officer Bill Norton measuring the distance between the knee and the swimsuit. Colonel Sherrill,...