I’ve seen some Capitol Hill ones but they didn’t have a sculpture on it. I haven’t seen too many of these in Dupont but at least one exists – and it’s pretty sweet.
History
Not built in DC but still pretty cool:
Well this is freaking awesome. The Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association has a new initiative – they write:
“I wanted to let you know about a new MHNA initiative this year- an online compilation of neighborhood history. It’s just a start, but we’ve already unearthed some cool things: 1922 video footage of President Harding unveiling the Joan of Arc sculpture, a documentary on the New School of African American Thought (once at 2208 14th St), a full historic review of the 1300 block of Florida Ave, etc. In the coming month 3 graduate students from Georgetown will be interviewing some of the neighborhood’s older residents, writing up transcripts and posting them on our new site. We also hope to add more old photos too.
If you (or your readers) have old photos/videos/articles about the neighborhood, we’d love to scan & post them.”
But what got me super psyched is this 1922 video footage they found. Even though there is no sound the footage is mesmerizing. You can watch the video here. The explanation says:
“1922, January 6. Ceremony of unveiling a statue of Jeanne d’Arc in Meridian Park. Crowd assembled for the ceremony. President and Mrs Warren G Harding arrive at ceremony. Officials speak at stand. Unveiling of Jeanne d’Arc statue. Flags on poles. Man places bouquet and flowers in front of the statue. Secretary of War, John W Weeks speaks. Side view of statue. Various officials speak at ceremony.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
“For more information on the LeDroit Park /Bloomingdale Heritage Trail effort, contact Robert Sullivan: 202-365-8542.
To learn more about the Washington, DC Neighborhood Heritage Trails Program, contact Jane Freundel Levey at Cultural Tourism DC: 202-661-7581.
Washington, DC Neighborhood Heritage Trails are developed by neighborhood working groups and the nonprofit Cultural Tourism DC with funding by the District Department of Transportation, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.”
From an press release:
In remembrance of the 146th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, President
Lincoln’s Cottage will display one of five American flags that were hanging in Ford’s Theatre the night of the assassination. The flag will be on display for one week only beginning on April 11, 2011.The flag is said to have been grabbed in haste from the bunting on the presidential box and used to cushion Lincoln’s head after he was shot. Thomas Gourlay, a part-time theater manager, kept the blood-stained flag that night, after Lincoln was moved to the Peterson House across the street from Ford’s Theatre. Jeannie Gourlay, actress in “Our American Cousin”, which was playing that night, and daughter of Thomas Gourlay, kept the flag in her possession until she died in 1924. It was donated to Pike County Historical Society by her son in 1954. The flag will be displayed in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center, adjacent to the Cottage.
In addition to this display, President Lincoln’s Cottage will host James Swanson, author of Manhunt and Bloody Crimes, on April 14, the anniversary of the assassination. The event is part of the Cottage Conversation evening lecture series. Swanson is renowned as an expert on the Lincoln assassination. Due to its immense popularity, this is currently a wait-list-only event as general admission tickets sold out in February. For more information on Cottage Conversations visit here.
President Lincoln’s Cottage, located in Washington, D.C., is the most significant site associated with Abraham Lincoln’s presidency open to the public today. Although the Cottage is in a pastoral setting 3 miles north of the White House, life here brought Lincoln and his family closer to the war. Lincoln commuted three miles daily by horseback or coach to the White House, last visiting the Cottage the day before his assassination. The New York Times said of the Cottage: “Its power is the power of association, its contact with a historical presence; we literally walk in a great figure’s footsteps.”
Opened to the public for the first time in 2008, the Cottage offers intimate, guided tours providing an in-depth, media- enhanced experience highlighting Lincoln’s ideas and actions through historical images and voices. The Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center houses thematic galleries and changing exhibitions providing visitors of all ages opportunities for in- depth exploration of Lincoln’s life and times.
For information about visiting President Lincoln’s Cottage, go to www.lincolncottage.org.
Well you can barely make out the sign but I’m 99% sure it says B. Roth Saddlery from 1033 7th St, NW at the corner of L. I’m pretty sure the building next door has been nominated as a horse’s ass award. I guess I should add this one to the list as well. Pretty ironic/awesome that the building used to sell saddles.
But the fact that you can still (barely) see a sign for B. Roth Saddelry is pretty cool. Hard to imagine horses galloping down 7th St, NW.
“Dear PoP,
I saw this today, unfortunately I’ll be out of town that weekend! I haven’t seen it reported on the blogs anywhere, but thought maybe folks would want to know.”
I actually did this tour back in April ’09 and it was awesome.
You can register for the tour here.
I found a bit of info on a Web site called Showcase that says:
“The Yards is a development of Forest City Enterprises- Washington in partnership with MacFarlane Partners.
This retail heart of The Yards will be found at the corner of Tingey and 4th Streets SE in an expansive former industrial building known as The Boilermaker Shop where boilers for Navy ships were once manufactured. Now, as a part of The Yards, The Boilermaker Shop is being converted into an exciting, two-level, 45,000-square-foot retail center with opportunities for outdoor dining and more. All this will be nestled in the heart of the new, 42-acre riverfront neighborhood that Forest City is developing within walking distance of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
Retail shops and restaurants will gain additional character with the complex’s Classic American industrial architecture, complete with exposed steel girders and clerestory windows.”
Looks like they hope to open in Nov. 2011. Not sure how realistic that is but it sounds pretty sweet and some cool history as well.
I was happily surprised to see that the new African American Civil War Museum has opened up at 1925 Vermont Ave, NW. The building is amazing. They were previously located in a small space at 1200 U St, NW. The new building is located behind the old Grimke School. Their Web site says:
“We Have Moved to the new space at 1925 Vermont Ave NW Washington, DC 20001. The new location will be our permanent home. It is located across the street from the African American Civil War Memorial. We have some great events leading up to the Grand Opening, July 16-18. Be sure to save the date.”
I was able to stop in and snap a few photos. Founding Director (and former Council Member) Frank Smith tells me that by next weekend about 65% of the exhibits would be installed.
You can learn more about the background of the museum here:
“In January 1999, the Civil War Memorial Museum opened to the public. Using photographs, documents and state of the art audio visual equipment, the museum helps visitors understand the African American’s heroic and largely unknown struggle for freedom.”
Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)
From an email:
Ever wonder about that piece of stone castle wall at 16th Street and Florida Avenue?
How did Meridian Hill become a park?Architectural historian Kimberly Prothro Williams, DC Office of Planning, will give a presentation on the history of the Meridian Hill neighborhood.
This presentation is free and open to the public.
Date: Monday, April 4, 2011
Time: 7-9pm
Location: The Community Room, View 14
2303 14th St NW, Washington, DCSponsored by Meridian Hill Neighborhood Association
www.meridianhilldc.org