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When the Swamp Wasn't Drained: How a Con Man Tried to Build the World's Largest Airport in Alexandria

When the Swamp Wasn't Drained: How a Con Man Tried to Build the World's Largest Airport in Alexandria

10/19/2023 in DC by Casey Ruken

Huntley Meadows Park near Alexandria treats visitors to over 1,500 acres of restored wetlands, forests, and meadows.  It is home to a stunning diversity of wildlife, all visible from a boardwalk, observation tower and trails. But if Henry Woodhouse, an aviation enthusiast with a shady past, had gotten his way, this gorgeous slice of Northern Virginia might have become the biggest airport in the world. 

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Virginia
The Evolution of Arlington House: From Plantation to Military Camp and Freedperson Settlement, to National Cemetery

The Evolution of Arlington House: From Plantation to Military Camp and Freedperson Settlement, to National Cemetery

08/18/2023 in Virginia by Aliyah Thompson

For those who have visited the Arlington National Cemetery, or simply know a lot about its origins, Arlington House is a recognizable feature of the historic site. However, before it became a dedicated national cemetery, it served multiple purposes once it was no longer a plantation both during and after the Civil War.

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DC
The Federal Government's $15 Million Cat

The Federal Government's $15 Million Cat

07/26/2023 in DC by Isabel Sans

It's no secret that the CIA sometimes thought more about whether it could and less about whether it should. Project Acoustic Kitty was one of those times. Does "trained cat" sound like an oxymoron to you? It should, but it cost the CIA $15 million to find out the same thing!

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Virginia
This House, Undivided: Sarah Tracy’s Mount Vernon During the Civil War

This House, Undivided: Sarah Tracy’s Mount Vernon During the Civil War

06/02/2023 in Virginia by Isabel Sans

Mount Vernon is a priceless national treasure and symbol of America's foremost founding father. But were it not for a tiny staff guarding it through the 1860s, it might not have survived the Civil War. At the head of this skeleton crew was a soft-spoken, unassuming New York secretary who politely put her foot down and said: This is George Washington's ground, and your war will stop here.

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DC
Iconic D.C.: Lesser Known Monuments in Washington, D.C.

Iconic D.C.: Lesser Known Monuments in Washington, D.C.

05/12/2023 in DC by Emma O'Neill-Dietel

The new PBS documentary series Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories explores US history and identity through iconic national symbols. Washington, D.C. is home to some of America’s most iconic landmarks and historic sites, like the Washington Monument, the White House, and the Smithsonian Castle. But locals know that beyond the national landmarks, there are hundreds of lesser-known symbols and landmarks that make the city unique and hold the memories of its residents. Over the years, Boundary Stones has highlighted many of them.

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DC
A Cartographer’s Lament: The D.C. - Virginia Boundary That Wouldn't Stay Put

A Cartographer’s Lament: The D.C. - Virginia Boundary That Wouldn't Stay Put

04/21/2023 in DC by Jane Winik Sartwell

For decades, the land on the western bank of the Potomac River that is currently home to the Pentagon, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Roache’s Run Bird Sanctuary, and part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway was disputed territory. Did it belong to Virginia? The District? No one seemed quite sure.

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Maryland
Hulks like Huge Flower Pots: The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

Hulks like Huge Flower Pots: The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

12/16/2022 in Maryland by Emma Tanner

At the beginning of the First World War, the United States decided to undertake the largest shipbuilding effort in the nation's history. But before these ships could set sail, the war ended. Thus began the curse of the Ghost Fleet, a large group of unwanted ships that would eventually be abandoned in Mallows Bay on the Potomac. For decades many saw them as an eyesore and hazard. But after years of the neglect, the ships would eventually find their purpose -- in a most unexpected way.  

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Virginia
Beyond the Invitation: Chief Plenty Coups and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Beyond the Invitation: Chief Plenty Coups and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

11/11/2022 in Virginia by Emma Tanner

Many international dignitaries were invited to attend the unknown soldier burial on Armistice Day in 1921, honoring those who had died in anonymity during World War I. However, the invitation of one of these guests, Chief Plenty Coups of the Crow tribe, carried a greater significance. His attendance represented the Native American contribution to the Great War as well as the contentious relationship between Native Americans and the United States government at the turn of the twentieth century. 

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DC
The Flight and Flop of Washington's Rival Civil War Balloonists

The Flight and Flop of Washington's Rival Civil War Balloonists

10/28/2022 in DC by Emma Tanner

Military leadership, including President Lincoln, saw the potential of military balloons, and the public believed they would change the landscape of the Civil War, aiding the Union’s eventual success. Only two years later though, what would be known as the “Balloon Corps” would be dissolved. So, what ended the use of this promising and successful aerial endeavor?

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DC
The City That Was... And The City That Never Was: A Tale of Two Paintings at the GW Museum

The City That Was... And The City That Never Was: A Tale of Two Paintings at the GW Museum

06/28/2022 in DC by Meaghan Kacmarcik

Walk up the spiral staircase at the GW Museum, take a right into the first gallery, and you will be met with a pair of large (5’ x 6’) bird-eye's-view paintings of Washington, DC. Both represent the capital city in the 1820s and, at first glance, the two works look very similar, with comparable coloring, landscape, and style. That’s not suprising as both were done by the same artist and, significantly, the two pieces share the same view – looking down on the District from Arlington Heights. But, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the paintings represent different perspectives of the fledgling national Capitol – one aspirational, the other more realistic.

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Boundary Stones explores local history in Washington, D.C., suburban Maryland and northern Virginia. This project is a service of WETA and is supported by contributions from readers like you.

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