During a visit to Washington in 1991, Queen Elizabeth II strolled down a troubled street in Ward 7 — an event that is remembered to this day in the street’s name, “Queen’s Stroll Place.”

Well, technically, happy birthday to Washington T.C.

D.C. ranked as the 8th best city for recreational activities. Thus, you should skip out of work early, go outside, and play some kickball or something.

Type “Virginia is” in a search engine, and the top auto-complete result will be “for lovers.” Try Maryland, and you’ll get “for crabs.” How about D.C.?

In 1953, a runaway train smashed through the concourse of Union Station. Some 60 years later, it sits on a stretch of track in Baltimore. Here’s the story of Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 #4876.

The t-shirts and sweatshirts that vendors peddle to tourists on the National Mall have gotten much more, ummm, stylish recently.

The second half of the 19th century was a tumultuous one for Washington D.C., as the Civil War ripped apart the country and actually contributed to the city’s growth: With soldiers coming into the city to defend it and other government agencies needed to handle the war effort, the population grew from 75,000 in 1860 to over 130,000 in 1870. By 1890, there were nearly a quarter of a million residents—the Capitol Building’s expansion…

Baltimore and Washington’s bid for the 2012 Olympics didn’t get very far, but the officials behind the proposal are looking at 2024 for another shot.