D.C. Must Have Subway System Eventually
The proposed subway would start near Key Bridge, running to Massachusetts Avenue at a point near Union Station and then eastward to the edge of the District.
Transit
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.
Why Is It Named Ballston? The Ball Family Behind Arlington’s Hub
Before the towers and the Metro, Ballston was a log tavern at a dirt crossroads, run by a family George Washington called cousins.
Southern Railway Building: Fire, Then Federal Triangle
The Southern Railway Building stood at 13th and Pennsylvania for 50 years. Then it burned. Then the federal government paid $2.68 million to clear it for Federal Triangle.
Exploring the 1890 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Route from Washington to Rockville
Take a journey back in time with this 1890 map of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad route from Washington to Rockville. Explore the history of this iconic railroad and its impact on the region.
DC Metro Center Station: The 1969 Vision for the Subway Hub
In November 1969, the Washington Post detailed plans for Metro Center at 12th and G Streets NW: 31 escalators, a $15 million budget, and a 1972 opening. The actual opening slipped to March 1976.
The 1936 Capital Transit Map That Ran Streetcars From Rosslyn to Beltsville
A Capital Transit streetcar route schematic from 1936 shows 26 years before the last DC streetcar: routes to Rosslyn, Cabin John, Catholic U, Beltsville, and the 7th Street Wharves.
1920s Traffic Lights: How DC Killed the Amber-Before-Green
In the 1920s, DC traffic lights flashed amber before green. By July 1927 drivers had ruined it, gunning their engines on amber. The District killed the cue.
The Political Pressure behind Renaming Georgia Avenue in DC
Georgia Avenue was not always called Georgia Avenue. It was 7th Street NW until senators from Georgia and Wisconsin fought over L’Enfant’s city plan.
Exploring the History of Takoma Park (and Takoma), a Victorian Suburb of Washington, DC
Discover the fascinating history of Takoma Park, a Victorian-era suburb of Washington, DC. Founded by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert in the late 19th century, explore the charming architecture and unique culture of this small neighborhood by the District line.