Long before Metro, Washington moved by streetcar, railroad, and horse-drawn carriage. These posts trace the history of how people got around the capital, from 19th century rail companies to the debates that shaped the modern transit system.
Can someone identify the time period for this intersection of Cedar and 4th Street in Takoma Park, DC? Check out the almost identical view today on Google Street View and see if you can tell!
Take a look back at 1971 maps of what could have been I-95 cutting through D.C. Today, what is now 395, ends at New York Ave. NW. Get a glimpse into what could have been with these fascinating maps from 1971.
Why are there no interstate highways cutting through Washington? It’s one of the few cities without a major highway right through it. Learn the history going back to the 1960s.
Take a look at what it cost to take a taxi in Washington D.C. in 1947. You won’t believe your eyes when you see the unbelievable rates revealed in this article from The Washington Post. Plus, find out who is taking a cab from D.C. to Charlottesville or Gettysburg.
Washington DC almost has a subway started in 1912, well before WMATA and Metro opened in 1976. Learn about what almost was built in the District.
Explore a Metro map done with braille and discover its date. This map stops at Silver Spring, so it’s some time before 1990, when Forest Glen was built. Find out more in this blog post.
This is so cool! Check out this incredible map of Washington, DC from 1921, done by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Explore the city like never before!
Vintage photos from Metro’s own archives document the decade-long construction of the Washington subway system before it opened in 1976.
Brookland is now an up-and-coming neighborhood in Washington DC, but it wasn’t always this way. In 1977, the Washington Post printed an article about how Metro was about to arrive. Read on to learn more about the past and present of this DC neighborhood.
