The Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. is framed by delicate cherry blossoms in the foreground, with the Tidal Basin's reflective waters dotted by leisure boats under a vast blue sky with wispy clouds, capturing the iconic beauty of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Creating Potomac Parks, Hains Point, and the Tidal Basin: Potomac Flats Improvement Project

ByValerie Moore

The land that the monuments in Washington sit on was, at one time, in the middle of the Potomac River. Transforming tidal flats and marshland into some of the best known landmarks in the world was an engineering feat that some have compared to better known projects such as the Statue of Liberty. Born out…

Colorful historical lithograph titled 'Panoramic View of Washington City,' by Edward Sachse, depicting the city from the new dome of the Capitol looking west, with a bustling scene of carriages and pedestrians.

Constitution Avenue Was a Canal: History of the Washington City Canal

ByValerie Moore

Today, Constitution Avenue is one of Washington, DC’s major thoroughfares, bustling with traffic and flanked by some of the nation’s most iconic monuments and institutions. However, few may realize that this pivotal roadway was once a canal, playing a crucial role in the city’s early commerce and transportation network. Learn about the history of the…

Black and white historic photograph circa 1863, capturing a bird's-eye view of the National Mall from the Capitol building, featuring the Washington City Canal, the Botanic Garden with its distinctive glasshouse, and the unfinished Washington Monument in the distance.

The National Mall During the Civil War: An 1863 Photo

ByValerie Moore

This photo of the National Mall during the Civil War from the Library of Congress highlights how much the National Mall (and Washington, DC) has changed. This photograph of the National Mall taken around 1863 is filled with historical significance and shows how the National Mall was at the height of the Civil War. In…