Early DC

[Rhatkinson]

I know Roger will have to move this to another page, but for those like me who love DC history, this is a great video.

Heath

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eKY45I9Bsho

[RJNorton]

Thanks for posting this, Heath. I had never seen anything quite like that before - fascinating video!

[Gene C]

That was great. I wish we had this when I was in school.
(being in the insurance business, I wonder if back then they had problems with the Potomac flooding? Looks like they could from the maps)

[BettyO]

Fantastic! Thanks!!

This appears to have been done in AutoCAD 3D - drafting/design/rendering software. I've had one rendering class in this, but since we don't use it at work, I really can't say that I've utilized it - but man, is it impressive!
Makes me want to learn more.

[L Verge]

They had many more problems with flooding then, Gene, than now. The Army Corps of Engineers has done great work over the years to release the pressure on flood-prone areas.

One of the worst areas in my childhood and earlier (ancient times) was right on the Maryland-D.C. line in a town known as Bladensburg (where the British defeated a weak American contingent in 1814 and marched across the border to burn the Capitol, White House, etc.). Bladensburg had been a major port town in the early days, but silting had affected the channels of the Eastern Branch of the Potomac (what we now call the Anacostia River).

After World War I, our county had erected a huge monument to the war dead. It is called the Peace Cross, and every heavy rainy time, the Cross would be standing in water. I believe that it was the 1950s when the Army finally dredged and widened the Anacostia (with a big ditch) to prevent such occurrences.