Then and Now: Guessing Game
15 07 2008In 1918, the land pictured below was nothing but a swampy piece of land occupied by a few small structures. However a few years later, plans swung into action to build a new project where the arrow is pointing. Lets see if you can guess what Neoclassical structure currently occupies this land. We will give you a clue, it was designed by John Pope.
Follow the jump for the same picture taken 40 years latter, with one significant addition…
After much planning, work finally began in 1939 to build the Jefferson Memorial. Interestingly enough, the bronze status of Jefferson himself wasn’t added till 1947.
[Photo Credit: National Archive]
My grandmother, who moved to DC in 1912 to work in the “new” IRS department used to go swimming in the tidal basin. Apparently, this was not so unusual. It never occurred to me that the Jefferson wasn’t built until so much later.
BTW, she lived on California Street in Adams Morgan — the edge of town at that time. There were farms just past 18th and Columbia.
Also please note the beautiful - no, breathtaking - highways added behind it.
[…] Think you know DC? Try playing DCMetrocentric’s Then and Now Guessing Game. [DCMetrocentric.com] […]
The Jefferson is my favorite of DC’s memorials and monuments.
DC Metrocentric — keep these old/new pictures coming. They’re awesome!
That is my single favorite monument in DC. It is especially beautiful when lit up at night. BTW, the quote around the inside of the dome is also one of my favorites:
“I have sworn upon the altar of almighty God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” - Thomas Jefferson
I love that the statue under that quote is staring directly at the White House.