September 30, 2011

lookhigh:

Workers assess the earthquake damage to the Washington Monument, Sept. 28, 2011. (National Park Service)

WaPo: A dream job for engineer

11:03am
(Notes: 137)
  
Filed under: washington monument earthquake washington dc 
August 24, 2011

todaysdocument:

On August 24 and 25, 1814, British troops occupied Washington, D.C. and burned the Capitol, the President’s house, and other public buildings during the War of 1812.

  1. “Capture of the City of Washington,” August 1814
  2. The Taking of the City of Washington… by the British Forces Under Major General Ross on August 24, 1814… the public property destroyed amounted to thirty Million of Dollars. Copy of engraving, 1814

9:09am
(Notes: 90)
  
Filed under: War of 1812 Burning of Washington Washington DC 1800s today in history Today's Document 
July 25, 2011

Is It Hot Enough to Cook an Egg on the Watergate Roof? Yes.

The Atlantic senior editors make the most of the heat wave with a carton of eggs and the roof of our home in Washington, DC.

10:06am
(Notes: 21)
  
Filed under: heat wave the atlantic washington dc 
July 12, 2011

todaysdocument:

July 12 - Supplement to the DC Emancipation Act

Supplementary to the “Act for the Release of Certain Persons Held to Service or Labor in the District of Columbia” [Supplemental Act of July 12, 1862];

On July 12, 1862, Congress passed a supplemental bill to the original DC Emancipation Act which covered another type of claim, allowing slaves whose masters had not filed for compensation to do so. 

An important factor in deciding claims under this Act was that the testimony of both blacks and whites was accepted. Now, if an owner challenged a slave who petitioned for freedom, the testimony from both was given equal weight, a sharp departure from the previous legal practice in which slaves or freed blacks could not testify against whites.

9:08am
(Notes: 25)
  
Filed under: emancipation District of Columbia Washington DC slavery Civil War DC Emancipation today in history Today's Document 
June 17, 2011

lookhigh:

When the nation discovered another use for duct tape

June 17 - Break-in at the Watergate

Security Officer’s Log of the Watergate Office Building Showing Entry for June 17, 1972

During the early hours of June 17, 1972, Frank Wills was the security guard on duty at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. This log shows that at 1:47 a.m. he called the police, who arrested five burglars inside the Democratic National Committee Headquarters. Investigation into the break-in exposed a trail of abuses that led to the highest levels of the Nixon administration and ultimately to the President himself. President Nixon resigned from office under threat of impeachment on August 9, 1974.

10:02am
(Notes: 249)
  
Filed under: Richard Nixon Washington DC Watergate today in history politics history history 1972 nixon 
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