Take a look back at World War II-era Washington, D.C. with these photos of the long gas lines in the city on June 21st, 1942, the day before stricter gasoline rationing went into effect.

Explore the unique posters of the Work Projects Administration (WPA) from 1936 to 1943, including the one below which shows the Navy asking to borrow your binoculars to help prevent attacks at sea. View 907 digitized posters at the Library of Congress!

On this date, 50 years ago, The Washington Post printed a story about the government of Austria owing the District back taxes on their embassy for lack of payment during World War II. The Austrians have been billed since the property was registered in their name the whole time. Find out if the bill was ever paid.

In 1947 (or possibly during WWII), a strange sight occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue: A parade of tanks rolling from the Capitol Building to the White House. Read more to learn why this happened and the discussion on Reddit.

Revisit the history of the complex relationship between America and France, from the American Revolution to WWII and beyond. Learn more about the shared history and how it has shaped our views of each other.

Check out this cool photo from WW2 of schoolboys going door to door collecting scrap paper for a salvage drive in Mount Pleasant, D.C. Learn more about this historic moment captured on Google Street View!

Take a look at this WWII photo of a couple visiting the Capitol. Could this romantic image have been staged for the war effort? Explore the mystery of this photo and the soldiers milling about in the background.

A stunning moment captured in time – a soldier and a woman in a park during 1943 with the Old Russell Senate Office Building as the backdrop. See the photo and read the story behind it here!

Remembering Buddy Lewis, the Washington Senator and World War II veteran who served 11 seasons in D.C. and flew 350 missions over Europe to fight Nazi Germany. Learn about this heroic player, who passed away at the age of 94.

Discover the amazing stories from Washington's National Airport: from an 8,198-mile nonstop flight to a ticket agent murder to a jurisdictional dispute. Read about these incredible stories and more!

Get to know the life and times of Walter Spangenberg, a Washingtonian and Naval Aviator during WWII. Read about his journey from Wilson High School to the Korean War and beyond. Plus, see photos from the Library of Congress!

The District's peacetime population exploded as government grew and workers - men and women - flocked to new jobs.  It was 1940.  Census employees hit the streets in April.  They determined that D.C. had grown rapidly.

In the hours before Pearl Harbor, Washington Post articles spoke of the failing negotiations between the U.S. and Japan. Read about the articles and President Roosevelt's dramatic move to prevent war. See his "Date Which Will Live in Infamy" speech and related articles.

An amazing old color photo taken in May 1943 by John Collier shows an unnamed sailor and his girlfriend visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. See the powerful photos and learn what happened to them during and after the war.

Watch a video of Winston Churchill's speech in Washington in December 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and read the most powerful quote from the speech. Learn more about the speech and related articles.

Love it. Hate it. It has some of the most confusing terminology for out-of-towners. Inner loop of what? Outer loop? But there’s only one Beltway. Wait, I’m on 495, but also 95, and that’s 295? That’s not confusing. Super GoDC reader, DrCapsFan (if we make t-shirts, he might get the first) suggested doing a little research into the Capital Beltway. This one will likely be a...

Here’s an interesting story from the end of World War II. Near the end of the war, the Crowned Prince of Iraq, Abdul Ilah was due to visit Washington and newly inaugurated President Truman (Roosevelt died only a little over a month earlier). Below is an article from the Washington Post, on May 10th, a couple of weeks before the visit. Prince Abdul Ilah, regent and heir apparent to the throne...

This photo of two children playing with fake guns at Woodrow Wilson High School during World War II is a shocking reminder of how kids emulate what they see. Learn more about this scene taken in 1943.

My last post went way back to the 1920s. This one is a couple of decades after that, but well before the Washington Capitals arrived here. Our second “Before Ovechkin” post will cover the Washington Lions of the American Hockey League (AHL). Stu Smith of the Washington Lions (1941-42) (more…)

Most of you probably are not aware that Nazi saboteurs landed on our shores early during World War II. On June 12th, 1942, a Nazi submarine reached the coast of Long Island, landing four German spies on the sandy beaches of Amagansett. U.S. Coast Guardsman, John Cullen discovered them while on routine beach patrol. George Dasch, leader of the landing party, bribed Cullen, who promised to keep quiet...

Uncovering the history of the blue home at 2509 Cliffbourne Pl. NW. Read about the bicycle accident, the prominent patent attorney, the Axis Sally trial jury selection and the body found in Rock Creek. Plus, a surprise story involving a P-B Automobile popularity contest.

Take a peek into the past and watch a video from the 1944 Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. during World War II. Enjoy the nostalgic vibes and a unique glimpse into the city during wartime. Pardon the music - mute it for the best experience.

This next installment of “If Walls Could Talk” will be the Petworth watering hole, The Looking Glass Lounge. This is one of my favorite places for a Sunday afternoon beer, especially in the warmer months, out on their back patio. I imagine the place will be packed this evening, and now you guys have another interesting conversation topic … what’s the story of the building inside...

Watch as Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, starts his fourth term at the White House during WWII. See the impressive video and photos, and learn more about this unique and muted event.

April 12th, 1945 was a sad day for our nation. Our president, who had led us through the depths of the Depression and was a force for good during World War II, died at 3:35 pm. He had just been inaugurated for a record fourth term and was guiding our country through the closing months of the greatest war the planet had ever seen. This is a somber video of his funeral procession through the nation’s...

Explore the history of 1036 Park Rd. NW in Washington D.C. through a historical sleuthing mission. Uncover the stories from the 1912 building permit, the marriage of Benjamin and Olga, Joseph Bryant's Commerce Department career, and City Wide Learning Centers.