Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Haunted History
Not all memorials are built with stone and bronze; some are born from tragedy. The site of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Adams Morgan marks the scene of the worst disaster in D.C.…
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Not all memorials are built with stone and bronze; some are born from tragedy. The site of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Adams Morgan marks the scene of the worst disaster in D.C. history.
In 1917, the theater opened as one of the city's most fashionable spots, seating 1,700 people. But on January 28, 1922, during a massive snowstorm, the roof collapsed while patrons were watching a silent film. The disaster killed 98 people, including five Georgetown University students and Congressman Andrew Jackson Barchfeld.
Today, the memory of that night serves as a grim memorial to the importance of building codes and public safety.
Updated June 2026