Last week we looked at the first Capitol Park, which existed for two years in the 1880s just north of the Capitol. Today, we will look at its follower, just a couple blocks further north.

A while back, I came across an article in the Washington Post with a list of baseball stadiums that have been in D.C. over the years. Some, like Griffith Stadium, I knew about. Others, like Capitol Park (or Capitol Grounds, as the refer to it) I decidedly did not. The fact that it was located […]

Last week, we looked at the origins of the name given to the Civil War hospital a mile east of the Capitol, and found that, contrary to legend, it was not named by the soldiers recuperating there. Today, we will try to find the origin of the legend – as well as another, similar, story.

Readers of my book Urban Legends and Historic Lore of Washington D.C. will recognize the format of the following piece: Starting with a tale as printed (or told) elsewhere, I then go on and explain the real story behind the story as told. The chief difference this time is that I am also the source […]

Last week, I wrote about the first free school opened to freed slaves in the District of Columbia, and Hamilton Wilcox Pierson, who ran it. Today, we will look at another man whose life rivals Pierson’s in breadth, and the school he opened.