Washington DC timeline
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Final Compromise Bans Slave Trade in District of Columbia
The fifth law, enacted on September 20, 1850 prohibited the slave trade (but not slavery itself) in the District of Columbia. Significantly, before... Read more
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Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Is Completed And Opened
On October 10, 1850, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was completed and opened for business along its entire 184.5 mile length from Washington, DC to... Read more
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The Baltimore Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln
The Baltimore Plot was an alleged conspiracy in late February 1861 to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln en route to his inauguration.... Read more
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Lincoln Comes Under Confederate Fire at the Battle of Fort Stevens
Description: On July 11, Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early’s exhausted Confederates reached the outskirts of Washington near Silver Spring. Skirmishers... Read more
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Battle of Fort Stevens
Other Names: Washington Location: District of Columbia Campaign: Early’s Raid and Operations against the B&O Railroad (1864) Date(s): July... Read more
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Douglass is Appointed U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), the most important African American figure of the 19th Century, is appointed Marshal of the District of Columbia by... Read more
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Douglass Purchases Cedar Hill House
Frederick Douglass purchased his final home in 1877, and named it Cedar Hill. He expanded the house from 14 to 21 rooms (including a china closet),... Read more
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W.D. Boyce founds the Boy Scouts of America
Boyce was lost on a foggy street in London in 1909 when an unknown Scout came to his aid, guiding him to his destination. The boy then refused... Read more
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Boy Scouts of America is Granted a Congressional Charter
The National Council is the corporate membership of the Boy Scouts of America and is administered by paid professional Scouters and volunteer... Read more
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National Park Service is Founded
Realizing the specialized nature of national park work and the desirability of unifying the parks into one integrated system, Secretary of the... Read more
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Knickerbocker Theatre Roof Collapse
Accumulated snowfall from a blizzard collapses the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., on this day in 1922. The blizzard formed in the... Read more
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Lincoln Memorial Dedicated
IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ENSHRINED FOREVER. Read more
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The American Communist Party is Outlawed
I HAVE just signed a bill which is designed to place into the hands of our law enforcement agencies, particularly the Attorney General and the FBI,... Read more
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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Opens on the National Mall in DC
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) is the United States' living memorial to The Holocaust. Adjacent to the National Mall in... Read more
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Ronald Reagan Makes Final Public Speech at a Tribute in Washington, D.C.
After leaving office in 1989, the Reagans purchased a home in Bel Air, Los Angeles in addition to the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara. They regularly... Read more
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A Gunman Opens Fire at U.S. Capitol Building, Killing Two Police Officers
The United States Capitol shooting incident of 1998 was an attack on July 24, 1998 which led to the death of two United States Capitol Police... Read more
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2006 Washington, D.C. Capital Pride Parade
**Capital Pride Parade -- Stepping off from 23rd and P streets NW, at 6:30 p.m. near the site of our earlier Pride festivals, the Pride Parade... Read more
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2007 Washington, D.C. Capital Pride Parade
The ten day long Capital Pride Festival celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community pride. There’s dances, parties, events,... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd Admitted to Hospital After Falling at Home
On February 26, 2008, Byrd was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for observation following a fall at his home the day before. Byrd... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd Readmitted to Hospital Due to Reaction from Antibiotics
On March 5, he was readmitted because of his reactions to antibiotics and the need for tests to determine a different course of medication, a... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd Hospitalized due to High Temperature
Robert Byrd, the longest-serving senator in history, was released from the hospital today after doctors treated him for a mild infection, his... Read more
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2008 Washington, D.C. Capital Pride Parade
Time again for the annual Capital Price parade and street festival celebrating pride in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd Steps Down as Appropriations Committee Chairman
U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd announced today that he will step down as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee as of Jan. 6. First elected... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd is Admitted to the Hospital After Experiencing a Fever due to an Infection
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), 91, has been hospitalized again, according to his office. The oldest and longest serving senator in U.S. history was... Read more
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Gunman Opens Fire at Holocaust Museum, Killing Guard
Some 200 people attended an interfaith gathering Thursday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to mourn the death of security guard Stephen... Read more