Stories
Washington, D.C. stories for walks, landmarks, and local context
Short, source-backed reads that explain what you are seeing while you move through the city.
City story
A Legacy in Limestone
At the Francis Scott Key Memorial, the architecture is designed to feel like a sanctuary. The centerpiece is a brownstone brick plaza…
City story
A Legacy in Song
In Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill, the Emancipation Memorial stands as a powerful testament to freedom. Dedicated in 1876, this bronze s…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
At Cedar Hill, the home of Frederick Douglass, the architecture tells a story of aspiration and achievement. Douglass acquired this es…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
In Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill, the Emancipation Memorial stands as a powerful testament to freedom. Dedicated in 1876, the bronze st…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
Imagine a grand house designed in 1898, a masterpiece of the Beaux Arts style. This was the Richard H. Townsend House, built for Mary…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
The Lincoln Memorial is one of the most visited sites in the world, drawing over seven million people every year. Authorized by Congre…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
On Capitol Hill, there's a commercial corridor known as Barracks Row. It's often called the oldest commercial district in Washington,…
City story
A Legacy in Stone
The words of Theodore Roosevelt were defined by a love for the wild, and this island in the Potomac is a living tribute to that spirit…
City story
A Legacy of Diversity
Deep within the S. Dillon Ripley Center on the National Mall, the Discovery Theater is doing something special for the next generation…
City story
A Legacy of Eloquence
Tucked away at 1411 West Street Southeast is Cedar Hill, the private retreat of Frederick Douglass. Douglass’s journey is the ultimate…
City story
A Legacy of Escape
At Cedar Hill, the air carries the legacy of a man who redefined freedom. This was the private retreat of Frederick Douglass, who esca…
City story
A Legacy of Freedom
Imagine a monument funded not by the government, but by the hard-earned wages of formerly enslaved people. That is the story of the Em…
City story
A Legacy of Freedom
At 1411 W Street SE, you'll find Cedar Hill, the private retreat of Frederick Douglass. This estate, which Douglass acquired in 1877,…
City story
A Legacy of Liberty
High on a hill in Southeast D.C. sits Cedar Hill, the private retreat of Frederick Douglass. Douglass, who escaped slavery to become a…
City story
A Legacy of Wages
In Lincoln Park, the Emancipation Memorial stands as a powerful testament to freedom, but its origin story is where the real impact li…
City story
A Lesson in Building Codes
Architecture isn't just about style; it's about safety. In 1917, the Knickerbocker Theatre opened in Adams Morgan as the largest movie…
City story
A Lesson in Safety
In 1922, a night at the movies turned into the worst disaster in Washington's history. At the Knickerbocker Theatre in Adams Morgan, t…
City story
A Living Plant Museum
Most museums house paintings or pottery, but the U.S. Botanic Garden houses life itself. Established by Congress in 1820, it holds the…
City story
Alternative Spirit
In the fall of 1993, a group of investors—most of them musicians—decided that Washington needed a revival of independent music. Their…
City story
A Mezze Masterpiece
When chef José Andrés opened Zaytinya, he wanted to bring the flavors of the Mediterranean to the heart of D.C. This restaurant specia…
City story
A Monument Funded by Freedom
The Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park tells a story of determination and dignity. Dedicated in 1876, this bronze statue depicts Ab…
City story
A Monument Funded by Freedom
Public art often comes from government grants, but the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park has a much more personal origin. Dedicate…
City story
A Monument Funded by Freedom
Most monuments are funded by governments, but the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park has a different origin. It was funded by forme…
City story
A Monument Funded by Freedom
Most monuments are funded by governments, but the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park has a different origin. This bronze statue, de…