Washington DC Transit History

Washington, DC and the 1942 Wartime Gas Shortage

December 4, 2023September 16, 2015 by ghostsofdc

1942. "Effect of gasoline shortage in Washington, D.C." Note the streetcar control tower. Photo by Albert Freeman, Office of War Information.

During World War II, a 1942 gasoline shortage pushed Washington, DC onto streetcars. Albert Freeman’s photo captured the 14th Street control tower.

Washington’s Hackmen: DC’s Cab Drivers Before Taxis

November 9, 2022August 31, 2015 by ghostsofdc

1860s photo of a hackman and his hackney (in London)

A chalk line on the curb outside the Metropolitan Hotel marked where DC’s hackmen waited for fares in their horse-drawn coaches.

The Rapid Transformation of H Street: A Photo from 1925 and the Same Block Today

November 9, 2022February 20, 2015 by ghostsofdc

"Rowhouses and moving company." Circa 1925, the furniture and hauling business of Sam Madeoy at 600 H Street N.E. National Photo Company.

Take a look at the incredible transformation of H Street in Washington, DC from 1925 to today. See a vintage photo from 1925 and compare it to how the same block looks today on Google Street View.

Identifying the Time Period of this Cedar St. Intersection with 4th St. in Takoma Park, DC

November 9, 2022December 2, 2014 by ghostsofdc

View looking from the northwest corner of Cedar and 4th Street NW east down Cedar Street toward the railroad underpass. Image includes a partial view of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad station on the right with a blurred locomotive crossing the underpass and going into the station. The train is headed toward Washington, D.C.

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!

A Look Back at the 1971 Maps Showing I-95 Cutting Through D.C.

November 9, 2022November 28, 2014 by ghostsofdc

Notice the decked/tunneled section south of Fort Totten, then the over 90-degree turn to the east, then the decked/tunneled section between Galloway Street and Gallatin Street, with the Metrorail Glenmont Route (Red Line trains) following the North Central Freeway (I-95 south of Fort Totten and I-70S north of Fort Totten), and with the Metrorail Greenbelt Route (Green Line trains) following the Northeast Freeway (I-95 east of Fort Totten). The area between Galloway Street and Gallatin Street where the Northeast Freeway was proposed was mostly open fields then and still is now.

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.

1968 War Over D.C. Interstate Highways

November 9, 2022November 25, 2014 by ghostsofdc

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.

How Much Did a Taxi Cost in DC in 1947? Unbelievable Rates Revealed

December 8, 2021June 19, 2014 by ghostsofdc

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.

Original Subway Planned for Downtown D.C. in 1912

May 26, 2026May 12, 2014 by ghostsofdc

proposed underground streetcar system - 1912

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.

Exploring a Metro Map Done with Braille – What Date is This?

November 28, 2019January 14, 2014 by ghostsofdc

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.