"Belair at Bowie": the Suburban Dream
William Levitt is often called the "Father of Suburbia," after his planned communities became popular in post-war New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. When he finally came to the D.C. area, his...
View ArticleThe "White Christmas" of 1962
If a white Christmas is what you want, D.C. might not be the best place for you. The area has only seen a handful of snowy holidays. But the most impressive came in 1962, when a record-setting 5 inches...
View ArticleReston's Roots: Black Activism in Virginia's New Town
Around the same time that Walt Disney envisioned a futuristic alternative to urban living—EPCOT (The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow)—a man named Robert E. Simon Jr. dreamed of a better...
View ArticleThe Burning of Paper, Not Children: A Look at the Catonsville Nine
In 1968, nine members of the Catholic Faith entered a Selective Services office in the sleepy town of Catonsville, Maryland. They grabbed hundreds of draft files from the office and took them to the...
View ArticleTurkey Tayac's Fight for the Piscataway People
For years, Turkey Tayac fought almost singlehandedly for the rights and recognition of his Native American group, the Piscataways. In the 1950s, he found some unlikely allies and successfully fended...
View ArticleGame, Set, Match: How Arthur Ashe Made Tennis Accessible in Washington
In the 1960s, Arthur Ashe paid a visit to inner-city Washington to participate in a “block party” tennis demonstration. The experience left a lasting impact on him. He would return to Washington and,...
View ArticleThe Federal Government's $15 Million Cat
The Federal Government's $15 Million CatIt's no secret that the CIA sometimes thought more about whether it could and less about whether it should. Project Acoustic Kitty was one of those times. Does...
View ArticleIn the 1960s, Prison Chaplains Created a Star Studded Music Festival at...
In the 1960s, Prison Chaplains Created a Star Studded Music Festival at Lorton ReformatoryIn the 1960s, the D.C. area's most exclusive music scene may not have been in the city's downtown clubs. It may...
View ArticleCan WWE Trace Its Roots to a Small Garage in Washington D.C.?
Can WWE Trace Its Roots to a Small Garage in Washington D.C.?WWE is globally recognized as a juggernaut in sports and entertainment. However, not many know of the colorful, and often violent, history...
View Article“The best Southern cook this side of heaven”: How Zephyr Wright Helped Pass...
“The best Southern cook this side of heaven”: How Zephyr Wright Helped Pass the Civil Rights ActPresident Lyndon B. Johnson had a secret weapon that he kept in his kitchen for more than 20 years: Chef...
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