1722 14th Street, NW
From The Outrage:
“After a year of challenges that at times have felt insurmountable, The Outrage — a hub for activism located on 14th Street — will reopen the doors to their community space on July 4th, unveiling the COVID-19 Memorial Project, an art gallery and event series that will memorialize the DC area lives lost to COVID-19. (more…)
From Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s office:
“Last Monday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter giving the National Park Service (NPS) until August 31, 2021, to make a final decision on whether it will change the name of Melvin Hazen Park in the District of Columbia and informing NPS she will consider introducing legislation to change the name if NPS has not made a final decision by then. In February, Norton asked NPS to change the name of the park because Hazen helped demolish the African-American community in the D.C. neighborhood then known as Reno City. In response, NPS said that it needed to take more time to examine whether it has the authority to change the name, and if does have such authority, whether it should change the name.
Norton’s letter to NPS follows. (more…)
Photo by laurabl
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Ahead of Juneteenth, on Saturday, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a day after the House passed a bill establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia to honor enslaved individuals who disembarked at the Georgetown waterfront. The commemorative work, to be established by the Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project and Tour, would honor the enslaved individuals’ presence, celebrate their contributions to history and recognize their resilience and fortitude.
“This week, we recognize Juneteenth, which marks the arrival of the news of emancipation to enslaved African Americans in Confederate-controlled Texas–two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued–the final end of slavery in the United States,” Norton said. “Juneteenth celebrates the culmination of the long struggle for freedom from bondage in the United States. This monumental event prompts us to reflect on the past and look to the future. This bill provides for the creation of a powerful marker of truth-telling and remembrance. Let us honor the personhood of these individuals, who were repeatedly assumed to have none, so that they will never be forgotten.”
Norton’s introductory statement follows. (more…)
Please enjoy some excellent street art from a deeply missed Express box I happened to find while searching my archives looking for something else. It is awesome.
Photo by Eric P.
From The Washington National Cathedral:
“Washington National Cathedral will toll its funeral bell 600 times, Thurs., June 10 at 5 p.m. ET, in memory of the 600,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19. The tolling will take one hour.”
Live stream: (more…)
via National Park Service
From the National Park Service:
“The National Park Service (NPS) today reopened Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, following a complete rehabilitation of the site and transformation of the visitor experience. New exhibits and research allow the NPS to interpret the history of the Custis and Lee families alongside that of the more than 100 enslaved people who labored on the plantation. Together, their stories reveal a more complete picture of life at Arlington House and of the people and events that changed our nation.
The rehabilitation, which began in 2018, was made possible through a $12.35 million donation by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to the National Park Foundation.
“Our goal is to create a place of dialogue and learning. We invite visitors to be curious, to connect with the stories, and to be open to hard questions. Park rangers and volunteers will share inclusive stories about the many people and events connected to Arlington House,” Charles Cuvelier, George Washington Memorial Parkway superintendent, said. “David Rubenstein’s generous donation improved every aspect of the site, and the National Park Service is grateful for his continued support.”
A visit today reveals a layered history that has often been untold–the experience of the enslaved people of Arlington House. (more…)
photo courtesy Dupont Underground
From Dupont Underground and Washington Blade:
“DC Royals: A Celebration of Drag June 4-27
Opening:
Friday, June 4 at Dupont Underground
19 Dupont Circle NW
5pm – General admission
8pm – Live drag performance
The exhibition showcases a mix of photographs and video footage that authentically honor the roots of drag in America, while celebrating the power, pride, and leadership that define the community. (more…)
Photo by Victoria Chamberlin
Please take a minute to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
If you have a photo of a neat find from your house or place of work please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail.com thanks. Please let me know where/what neighborhood you found it in too. Thanks.
Thanks to Dan for sharing this awesome find:
“Found this in my garden while preparing my plots for the planting season near U Street. It was very green and rusted at first, but after cleaning it up it appears to be a brass button of some sort.
So, I did some online digging (pun intended) and it turns out that this is a US Naval Officers formal attire button from before 1939. (more…)
If you have a photo of a neat find from your house or place of work please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail.com thanks. Please let me know where/what neighborhood you found it in too. Thanks.
Thanks to Sean for sending: “We came across this paper fan advertising “B.F Keith’s High-Class Vaudeville” in the attic of our Mt. Pleasant home.” (more…)