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.
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.
In these 1966 drawings, train cars roll under Connecticut Avenue, but above Rock Creek. These amazing early Metro plans never came to fruition. They depict the Red Line between Dupont Circle and Woodley Park.
How much did a train ticket cost from Washington to St. Louis in 1854? We found the answer in an old advertisement: $26.50 – roughly $660 in today’s money. Compare this with a flight today, which costs around $280.
In 1890, a large number of Washingtonians wanted to keep the dangerous Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station at 6th and B Streets NW, where Garfield was shot. Read on to learn more of the story!
On May 12, 1937, Sally Halterman stamped her foot at a skeptical D.C. police examiner until he handed her the first motorcycle license ever granted to a woman in the District. Four months later, she eloped on it.
Take a look back in time to 1897 and explore the proposed highway changes to Washington, DC. Read the full article from The Evening Star to learn more about the fascinating history of the city.
A photograph from 1977 shows Union Station in Washington, DC before its restoration, when the surrounding area was far less developed.
Imagine if the Kennedy Center had its own Metro station. Here’s an article from the Washington Post from 1966 that explores the estimated cost and feasibility of making this a reality.
Before the first train ran, WMATA produced an infomercial to build public excitement for the new Washington Metro.
