31 Days of History: 15 July

After 14 days of riveting historical information, I came up against a blank wall for today. It took quite a bit of digging, but I finally found a local connection to DC for the 15th of July. Just check out the following story. . .

Robert Wadlow (1918-1940) was a young man whose life was cut way too short. At just 22 years of age, he received a nasty cut on his ankle---the resulting infection spread rapidly and despite a blood transfusion and emergency surgery, Wadlow soon passed away. Some have speculated that his weight had something to do with his death (Wadlow weighed 490 pounds at his death), but since his body was in proportion (he was 8'11" tall), there's not much validity to that theory. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Wadlow is the tallest male who has ever lived.

Known as the "Alton Giant" (because of his hometown of Alton, Illinois), Wadlow's great size was due to hyperactivity of his pituitary gland which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death--had he lived, some speculate he would have been in excess of 10' tall!

Wadlow and his brother

Wadlow, with his mother, in his specially made easy chair

Despite his large statue, Wadlow was no sideshow spectacle or genetic freak of nature. He was simply a person who happened to be very large. Trying to maintain a normal life, Robert enjoyed collecting stamps, photography, and became the world's tallest Boy Scout at 7'4" when he was 13 years of age. By the age of 20, he had to have his size 37 shoes specially made at a cost of approximately $100 a pair, quite a considerable sum for the 1930's. The International Shoe Company began to provide his shoes free of charge, on the condition that Robert would become the company's traveling ambassador. He did, visiting eight hundred towns in forty-one states. Robert's father, who would act as chauffeur, modified the family sedan by removing the front passenger seat so that Robert could sit in the back and stretch his long legs. Together, Robert and his father traveled over 300,000 miles in slightly less than three years on behalf of International Shoes.

The Boy Scout at age 13

Wadlow and his father traveled the US for several years as the Goodwill Ambassador for the International Show Company

Signing autographs, or maybe getting some phone numbers?

What's the connection to DC?

On this day in history, 15 July 1948, General of the Armies John "Black Jack" Pershing passed away. Pershing was the commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in World War One (see previous mention of Pershing here and here) and the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies (that's a 5 star general). For the record, George Washington was only a 4-star General, but was promoted posthumously to his 5th star.

General of the Armies Pershing

Robert Wadlow's middle name was "Pershing"; he was named in honor of Gen Pershing. Wadlow was born in 1918--shortly after Pershing took command of the AEF and the US entered WWI. Pershing would have been a household name at the time, and the Wadlow's named the baby boy after one of the most famous American military leaders of the day.

Pershing's Tombstone (Arlington, VA); Wadlow's Tombstone (Alton, Ohio)

I know---it's a dubious connection, but it made for a good story, right?

31 Days of History: 14 July

I often hear people say, "I'm going to visit the Smithsonian". That's somewhat of an understatement, since the Smithsonian Institution isn't a single building--it's a very large organization composed of 19 museums, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo.

In 1826, a British scientist named James Smithson drew up his last will and testament, naming his nephew as beneficiary. Smithson stipulated that, should the nephew die without heirs (as he would in 1835), the estate should go “to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge." That's an interesting bequest, especially when you consider the fact that Smithson had never traveled to the United States and seems to have had no correspondence with anyone here. Since he never provided any explanation, the reasons will never be known.

James Smithson

After Smithson died in 1829, President Andrew Jackson announced the bequest to Congress. On 1 July 1836, Congress accepted the gift (it amounted to more than $500,000) and pledged the faith of the United States to the charitable trust.

After eight years of sometimes heated debate, the Smithsonian Institution was established on 10 August 1846. In 2008, the Institution welcomed over 30,000,000 (that's million) visitors.

A statue of Smithson in front of The Castle

(An interesting side note: Upon his death in 1829, Smithson's body was buried in Genoa. In 1904, Alexander Graham Bell, then Regent of the Smithsonian Institution, brought Smithson's remains from Genoa to Washington, D.C., where they were entombed at the Smithsonian Institution Building, aka "The Castle".)

Smithson's crypt inside The Castle

Many people don't realize that the National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian. The Zoo was founded in 1889 and became a part of the Institution in 1890. It has 163 acres and is located about 20 minutes away from the National Mall on Connecticut Avenue (NW).

Here's a couple of historical photos of the zoo.


Buffaloes ranging at the National Zoological in 1891, soon after the completion of the first building, a house for bison and elk.



Baby elephant Jayathu receives a pat from President Reagan upon her arrival in this country from Sri Lanka; 1983



The original "Smokey Bear" frolicking in a pool at the National Zoo. Smokey was brought from New Mexico in June of 1950 after being burned as a cub from a forest fire that swept through a portion of Lincoln National Forest.



Alligators in their enclosure in the original Animal House,1900. The Animal House was the first permanent building at the National Zoological Park. The alligators are shown in the "temporary" wooden wing of the structure. They were given more spacious accommodations when the Reptile House was completed in 1931.



This last photo is significant, since on this day in 1916 (93 years ago today) a watchman at the National Zoo reports sighting an alligator in Rock Creek Park. "The Head Keeper, with several assistants, turned out promptly and after a rather lively chase through the water an alligator about 3 feet long was captured and transferred to the tank where others of his kind are kept." It was never confirmed if the alligator had originally escaped from the Zoo, but since alligators do not normally live in Rock Creek Park of the surrounding area, it's a pretty safe assumption.

Just to prove that history often repeats itself: on 12 Aug 2008, there were multiple reports of an alligator spotted in Rock Creek Park. Zoo alligators were inventoried (none were missing) and dozens of zoo staff and workers turned out to look, but the "phantom gator" was never found. The next time you pass through Rock Creek Park, be on the lookout. . .

31 Days of History: 13 July

John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was born on this day 146 years ago. He was an American millionaire businessman, real estate builder, inventor, writer, a member of the prominent Astor family, and veteran of the Spanish-American War.

Astor during the Spanish-American War

He may be most famously remembered for building the "the world’s most luxurious hotel" in New York City in 1897. The complex became known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and the Astor family went on to unheard of wealth.

Astor and his child bride, Madeleine

After an unsuccessful marriage that produced two children, the 47 year-old Astor remarried in 1911 to 18-year–old Madeleine Force . As she was one year younger than his son, the newlyweds took an extended trip to Europe while the scandalous gossip died down. While in Europe, Madeleine became pregnant, and wanting the child born in the United States, the Astors booked first–class passage on the next luxury cruise ship headed for the US. They sailed from Cherbourg, France on 15 April 1912 aboard the brand new ship, the RMS Titanic.

The RMS Titanic

John Jacob Astor was by far the wealthiest passenger on board the Titanic and he traveled with his wife Madeleine, his servant, his wife's maid and nurse, and his pet Airedale, Kitty. When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began sinking at 11:40 p.m. on 14 April 1912, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger. He later helped his wife into a lifeboat and asked if he could join her, mentioning her "delicate condition" (she was five months pregnant at the time), but the officer in charge told him not until all the women and children were away. Astor reportedly stood back and asked for the lifeboat number, then, after lighting a cigarette, he tossed his gloves to Madeleine. She survived, but 1,157 others did not.

“The Sinking of the Titanic", by Henry Reuterdahl

Astor’s body was recovered on April 22 not far from the sinking—it was identified by the “JJA” embroidered on his shirt and he had in excess of $3000 in his pockets.

What’s the connection to DC?

On 26 May 1931, the Women's Titanic Memorial Association unveiled a thirteen-foot-tall figure of a partly clad male figure with arms outstretched overlooking the Washington Channel near Fort McNair. The Titanic Memorial honors the men who died on the RMS Titanic while giving up their place for others. The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”

The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”

The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”

If the pose looks familiar, it’s probably because it was copied by Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio in the 1997 film Titanic.

And you thought Hollywood was just being creative. . .

The Memorial was originally located on the site where the Kennedy Center now stands, and was moved to its present location in 1972. It’s one of the least known monuments in a city of monuments.

31 Days of History: 12 July

This was a tough call between two very interesting historical events for today. .

On this day in 1849 (160 years ago) Dolley Madison passed away. She was the spouse of James Madison (4th President of the United States) and was First Lady from 1809 to 1817. She also occasionally acted as First Lady during the administration of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), since Jefferson was a widower. What's the significance of her death? To answer that question, you have to go back to 1796 and trace the thread of history.

Dolley Madison (20 May 1768 – 12 July 1849)

In April 1796, Senator William Bingham of Pennsylvania-one of the wealthiest men in the U.S. at the time-and his wife, Anne commissioned American artist Gilbert Stuart to produce a large (8 by 5 feet) painting of George Washington. Sen Bingham wanted to give the painting as a gift to William Petty (aka the second Earl of Shelburne, the first Marquess of Lansdowne and briefly, the Prime Minister of Great Britain). Although Petty was British, he was an American sympathizer who supported independence of the colonies in Parliament. The painting was completed in the fall of that year and became known as "The Lansdowne Portrait".

The Second Earl of Shelburne, The First Marquess of Lansdowne and briefly, the Prime Minister of Great Britain

It shows Washington (then at 64 years old) renouncing a third term as President, thereby firmly supporting the progression of democracy and elected officials-not the rule of a King or popular leader/dictator.

The Lansdowne Portrait

While the original was presented to Lord Lansdowne (who displayed it at his home until his death in 1805. After his death, the painting went into private hands until recently--more about that in a moment), several copies were made (by the artist), one of which was presented to the President and hung in the East Room of the White House.

Stuart's painting is full of symbolism. You can find a full analysis of the symbolic painting here.


Shortly after gaining independence, America found herself back at war with the British. We won't go into the reasons here, but the War of 1812 was a significant time for the new nation. One of the lowest moments occurred on 24 August 1814, when the British invaded, occupied, and burned much of Washington, DC. Many federal buildings were destroyed, including the Senate and House buildings, the Treasury building and the Library of Congress. The British then turned north down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. First Lady Dolley Madison had chosen to stay after many of the government officials - and her own bodyguard - had already fled. She gathered valuables, documents and other items of importance, most notably the copy of the Lansdowne Portrait hanging in the East Room. She was finally persuaded to leave moments before invading soldiers entered the building. Once inside, the soldiers found the dining table set for a dinner party-after eating all the food, they looted the White House and set the building on fire, causing extensive damage. Only the exterior walls remained, and they had to be torn down and mostly reconstructed due to weakening from the fire and subsequent exposure to the elements. (Urban myth has it that white paint was applied to mask the burn damage it had suffered, giving the building its namesake hue. Untrue-the building had been painted white since its construction in 1798). Of the many spoils taken from the White House, only two have been recovered, including a jewelry box returned to FDR in 1939 by an old man who said his grandfather had taken it from Washington.

The Burning of the White House, 24 Aug 1814

Still burning

You can see the Landsdowne Portrait (the real one) for yourself at the National Portrait Gallery. In 2001, it was purchased for $30 million from an anonymous owner and a permanent home for it was established at the Portrait Gallery.
And thanks for Dolley Madison's courage and quick thinking, if you are ever in the East Room of the White House, you can see the copy of the Landsdowne Portrait that was saved from the British.

A rare photograph of an elderly Dolley Madison

By the way, Alexander Hamilton, the 1st US Secretary of the Treasury, was shot and killed in a duel with the sitting Vice President Aaron Burr on this day in 1795! (Incidentally, Dolley Madison was close friends with Aaron Burr, who introduced her to James Madison. In a totally unrelated fact, Madison was 43 when he married the 26 year-old Dolley.)

The duel of Hamilton (left) & Burr (right)

31 Days of History: 11 July

On 11 July 1906 (103 years ago), the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) achieved official status as part of the Smithsonian Institution.



The SAAM actually contains two separate museums--the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art. Both celebrate the American experience. From their website, "The SAAM, the nation's first collection of American art, is an unparalleled record of the American experience. The collection captures the aspirations, character and imagination of the American people throughout three centuries. The American Art Museum is the home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world.".

The Smithsonian American Art Museum, begun in 1829, was the first federal art collection. It actually started before the founding of the Smithsonian (which occurred in 1846). The museum began with gifts from private collections and art organizations, primarily from the collection of John Varden. (In an interesting tidbit--one of the "strings attached" to Varden's offer was the stipulation that he be hired as the curator for the museum). A significant milestone occurred in 1906, when the probated will of Harriet Lane Johnston, an art collector and niece of President James Buchanan (another interesting tidbit: she also served as official hostess in the White House for President Buchanan), forced an important decision in a federal court: the recognition that the Smithsonian's collection formed a "National Gallery of Art." With this decision, the collection grew rapidly and took on major significance.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has had many names over the years-Smithsonian Art Collection, National Gallery of Art, National Collection of Fine Arts, and National Museum of American Art. The museum changed to its current name in October 2000.

The museum is housed in one of the most historic buildings in DC, the Old Patent Office Building (authorized in 1836 by Andrew Jackson). I've previously blogged about this building and it's long and distinguished history--you can read about it here.



Tune in tomorrow for an exciting, historically relevant bit about the burning of the White House and one of SAAM's most important artifacts.

31 Days of History: 10 July

On this day in 1998, a mere 11 years ago, the U.S. military delivered the remains of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Blassie to his family in St. Louis. Why is that important? Because for 14 years, Lt Blassie had been in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. How he went from St Louis to Vietnam to Arlington before coming back home to Missouri is a story worth reading (there are also more pictures than normal, but I think they are justified).

Lt Michael Blassie

Blassie graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1970 and was serving as a member of the 8th Special Operations Squadron in South Vietnam. On 11 May 1972 he was flying support for an ARVN (Army of South Vietnam) ground unit besieged at An Loc in the latter days of the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) Easter Offensive. Another pilot watched as ground fire struck Blassie's plane; his plane rolled, turned upside down, crashed and exploded-no sign of ejection, no parachute had been witnessed, and no emergency radio signals had been broadcast. Immediate recovery attempts were launched, but the plane was in an area heavily controlled by enemy forces and it was impossible to examine the crash site. With eyewitness accounts of the crash and explosion, and with no evidence that he had survived, he was classified as "Killed In Action, Body Not Recovered" and his family back home was notified of the tragic loss. His remains were never found.

Michael Blassie, as a cadet at the Air Force Academy

A "rubbing" of Michael Blassie's name from the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The cross symbol (to the left) means the servicemember is Missing In Action

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14 years later, during a ceremony at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 17 May 1984, an unidentified servicemember was designated the "Vietnam Unknown". The remains were to be interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington along with remains of unidentified soldiers from WWI, WWII and Korea. The remains arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland the following day. Many citizens, veterans and President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan visited the servicemember as he lay in state in the U.S. Capitol. An Army caisson carried him from the Capitol to the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day, 28 May 1984. President Reagan presided over the funeral, and presented the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown. The President also acted as next of kin by accepting the interment flag at the end of the ceremony.

The Vietnam Unknown being carried into the Capitol

Resting in State for three days in the Capitol Rotunda

Enroute to Arlington

President Reagan visible on left

During the ceremony, President Reagan assured the families of missing servicemembers the quest for their loved ones was not over. "We write no last chapters," he said. "We close no books. We put away no final memories." The President then presented the Medal of Honor to the Unknown by stating we should "debate the lessons learned in Vietnam at some other time: Today we simply say with pride, 'Thank you, dear son. May God cradle you in His loving arms.' We present to you our nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam Era."

President Reagan presnting the Medal of Honor to the Vietnam Unknown

For the next fourteen years, the Vietnam Unknown lay in the Tomb, as members of the 3rd Infantry Old Guard walked their tireless, never-ending sentinel before the Tomb.



Meanwhile, family and friends of Lt Blassie began to put the pieces together and wonder if the Vietnam Unknown was really their relative. After securing the appropriate permission, the remains of the Vietnam Unknown were exhumed on 14 May 1998.

The Vietnam Unknown, after exhumation

Based on DNA testing, Department of Defense scientists were able to positively identify the remains at 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie (4 April 1948-11 May 1972). On 30 June 1998 the Defense Department announced that the Vietnam Unknown had been identified and Blassie's body was returned to his family. On 10 July, Blassie's remains were transported by a cargo plane from the 8th Special Operations Squadron (his unit) and finally arrived home in St. Louis. He was reinterred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Before Blassie's casket was lowered into the ground, his mother, Jean Blassie, silently removed a red, white and blue cloth cover from her son's 2-foot-high, white marble gravestone. She then poured out 6 ounces of dirt collected from Arlington National Cemetery on May 14, the day his remains were disinterred from the Tomb of the Unknowns. The military honor guard fired the 21-gun salute as an Air Force F-15 screamed overhead.

Dirt from Arlington being placed in Lt Blassie's grave

Following the removal of Lt. Blassie's remains from the Tomb of the Unknowns, the DoD announced it would not place another body in the crypt. Instead, officials announced they would carve an inscription on the cover, highlighting America’s commitment to account for all those missing in action. The marker at Arlington now reads, "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen"

It's blurry, but it reads, "Honoring and Keeping Faith with America's Missing Servicemen".

A brief background note: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (or the Unknowns) is a monument in Arlington National Cemetery dedicated to American servicemen who have died without their remains being identified. In 1921, an unidentified serviceman from World War I was interred in the white marble sarcophagus with the inscription, "HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD". Unidentified soldiers from WWII, Korea and Vietnam are placed in front of the sarcophagus with white marble slabs flush with the plaza.

The World War I Unknown arriving at the Washington Navy Yard

31 Days of History: 9 July

On this day, 9 July 1850 (159 years ago today) the 12th President of the United States, Zachary Taylor, died after a short illness. The exact cause of his death is unclear, and still disputed by some historians with nothing much else to do.

The 12th POTUS, Zachary Taylor

Taylor was known by the affectionate nickname "Old Rough and Ready". He had a 40-year military career in the U.S. Army, serving in the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, and Second Seminole War before achieving fame leading U.S. troops to victory at several critical battles of the Mexican-American War--all of this before he entered politics in 1848. Taylor was the first US President never to have held previously elected office!

General Rough & Ready

On a scorching Fourth of July in Washington, D.C., Taylor attended festivities at the newly dedicated grounds upon which the Washington Monument would be erected. According to several sources, Taylor gulped down a large quantity of cucumbers, cherries and iced milk and then returned to the White House, where he quenched his thirst with several glasses of water. While at the festivities, he also sampled several dishes presented to him by well-wishing citizens of DC.

ZT's official White House Portrait

Taylor died on the evening of July 9, after four days of suffering from symptoms that included severe cramping, diarrhea, nausea and dehydration. His personal physicians concluded that he had succumbed to cholera morbus, a bacterial infection of the small intestine.

Outbreaks of cholera, a deadly disease caused by bacteria, occurred frequently during the summer months in hot, humid Washington during the 1800s, when sewage systems were primitive at best. The bacteria were most likely present in the water or iced milk Taylor drank, though other sources have claimed that Taylor died of gastroenteritis. Others suspected food poisoning or typhoid fever. For the conspiracy theorists among us, there is the suggestion of foul play. Taylor adamantly opposed the spread of slavery and vowed to personally lead a military attack against any state that threatened to secede from the Union. (To further muddy the water, it should be noted that he was opposed to the "spread of slavery", not slavery itself. Taylor was from Virginia and he and his family had owned slaves for many years).

In the late 1980s, author Clara Rising theorized that Taylor was murdered by poison and was able to convince Taylor's closest living relative and the Coroner of Jefferson County, Kentucky, to order an exhumation. On 17 July 1991, Taylor's remains were exhumed and transported to the Office of the Kentucky Chief Medical Examiner, where radiological studies were conducted and samples of hair, fingernail and other tissues were removed. The remains were then returned to the cemetery and received appropriate honors at reinterment. Analysis conducted revealed no discernible levels of poison.

His vice president, Millard Fillmore, was sworn in as the new president the next day. He was the second Vice President to assume the presidency upon the death of a sitting president--the first being when was John Tyler was sworn in after the death of the 9th President William Henry Harrison.

The always distinguished Millard Fillmore

Here's a couple of brief pieces of Zachary Taylor trivia:
Taylor and his wife Margaret had six children (which might explain the look on her face).

One of Taylor's daughters, Sarah Knox Taylor married Jefferson Davis, the future President of the Confederate States of America.

Their only son, Richard, would become a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army who served with distinction throughout Northern Virginia and the southern campaign.

First Lady Margaret Taylor (top) with her son Richard (left) and son-in-law Jefferson Davis (right)

As a soldier always moving from location to location, Taylor never established an official place of residence and never registered to vote-He didn't even vote in his own election.

Taylor kept his favorite horse from the Army--"Old Whitey"--on the White House grounds and would give visitors a couple of white hairs from his famous horse as mementos.

Zachary Taylor and Old Whitey

31 Days of History: 8 July

On this day in 1960 (49 years ago today), the Soviet Union charged US Air Force pilot Gary Powers with espionage. Two months earlier, Powers was shot down while flying a secret mission over Moscow in a U-2 spy plane. He was found guilty on 17 August of the same year and sentenced to 10 years in prison (three years of imprisonment followed by seven years of hard labor).

Gary Powers on trial in the USSR

Powers' indictment signaled a massive setback in the peace process between the United States and the Soviet Union. Here's why:

The U-2 was a CIA program. U-2 pilots carried out espionage missions using a spy plane that could reach altitudes above 70,000 feet, essentially making it invulnerable to Soviet anti-aircraft weapons of the time. The U-2 was equipped with a state-of-the-art camera designed to take high-resolution photos from the edge of the atmosphere over hostile countries that included the Soviet Union. These cameras systematically photographed military installations and other important intelligence targets.

Gary Powers and his U-2 spy plane

Powers' U-2, which departed from a military airbase in Peshawar (Pakistan), was shot down by a Soviet Surface to Air missile on May 1. The CIA mistakenly believed that since May 1 was a Soviet Holiday ("May Day", similar to our 4th of July), Soviet defenses would be less vigilant. Somewhere over Sverdlovsk, deep in Soviet airspace, Powers plane was struck and he was forced to bail out. Powers was unable to activate the plane's self-destruct mechanism before he parachuted to the ground, right into the hands of the Soviet Army and the KGB.

A map showing Powers' projected route and crash site

The wreckage of Powers' U-2

When the U.S. government learned of Powers' disappearance over the Soviet Union, it issued a cover statement claiming that a "weather plane from Turkey" had crashed down after its pilot had "difficulties with his oxygen equipment" and might have accidentally wandered into Soviet airspace. What U.S. officials did not realize was that the plane crashed almost fully intact, and the Soviets recovered its photography equipment, as well as Powers, whom they interrogated extensively. The White House, believing Powers was dead, went on to proclaim that "there was absolutely no deliberate attempt to violate Soviet airspace and never has been". This propaganda continued until Khrushchev announced the pilot had survived and was in Soviet custody. (Several months later, Powers made a "voluntary confession" and public apology for his part in U.S. espionage.)

The timing couldn't have been worse for the United States. A major summit--with the theme of deconfliction and progress toward peace--between the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France was to begin that month. Instead, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev launched into a tirade against the US, openly accusing the Americans of being "militarist" and "unable to call a halt to their war effort." Suffering major embarrassment, President Eisenhower was forced to admit the truth behind the mission and the U-2 program, although he refused to publicly apologize to Khrushchev. This refusal caused the Paris Summit to collapse when Khrushchev stormed out of negotiations ,effectively ending the conference and setting back the peace talks between Khrushchev and Eisenhower for years.

On February 10, 1962, twenty-one months after his capture, Powers was exchanged along with American student Frederic Pryor in a spy swap for Soviet KGB Colonel Vilyam Fisher (aka Rudolf Abel) at the Glienicke Bridge in Berlin, Germany. (Fisher was an English-born KGB agent that had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for espionage.)

KGB Agent Vilyam Fisher

Glienicke Bridge, connecting East and West Germany, was the site of three major "exchanges" between the US and USSR during the Cold War

Though Powers claimed he had not divulged details of the U-2 program, he received a cold reception upon his return to the United States. After his return, Powers worked as a test pilot for several years before becoming an airborne traffic reporter for radio and TV stations in the Los Angeles area. Powers died on 1 August 1977 returning from covering brush fires in Santa Barbara county when his helicopter ran out of fuel and crashed.

Gary Powers, recreated as a traffic reporter

In 2000, on the 40th anniversary of the U-2 Incident, his family was finally presented with his posthumously awarded Prisoner of War Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star and National Defense Service Medal. In addition, then CIA Director George Tenet authorized Powers to posthumously receive the CIA's coveted Intelligence Star for extreme fidelity and extraordinary courage in the line of duty. (By means of comparison, upon Vilyam Fischer's return to Moscow, he continued to work as a trainer for the KGB and was rewarded with the Order of Lenin, the highest decoration provided by the Soviet Union.) Powers is buried in Section 11 of Arlington National Cemetery

31 Days of History: 7 July

The Supreme Court of the United States

On 7 July 1981 (28 years ago today), President Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court (Reagan had pledged during the 1980 presidential campaign to appoint a woman to the Supreme Court). She would be nominated to replace Potter Stewart as an Associate Justice.

President Reagan and Sandra Day O'Connor

There have been 110 Supreme Court Justices in the history of our nation, but only two have been female (of note, there have also only been two Justices of African-American descent: Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas.)

O'Connor was confirmed by the United States Senate 99-0 on 21 September and took her seat on the bench 4 days later.



(A little tidbit of trivia: Associate Justices of the Supreme Court receive an annual salary of $208,100 and the Chief Justice receives $217,400.)

She retired from the Court in 2006 and was replaced by Justice Samuel Alito. She currently serves as the Chancellor of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

31 Days of History: 6 July

On this day, 6 July 1802 (207 years ago today), the Revolutionary hero Daniel Morgan passed away at the age of 66. Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and later served as an United States Representative for the state of Virginia. He is often remembered as one of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War.

Daniel Morgan

Little is known of his early life, but most historians agree that Morgan was born in New Jersey. When he was 16, he left home after a fight with his father and after working odd jobs in various places, he finally settled in frontier Virginia, near what is now Winchester, Virginia.

After the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Morgan was chosen to command a unit from Virginia. Almost immediately, he took part in an ill-fated invasion of Canada. Along with Benedict Arnold, they launched an unsuccessful attack on Quebec. Forced to surrender, Morgan was among the 372 men captured and remained a prisoner until January 1777.

"Surrender of Burgoyne", painted by John Trumbull (1882). Daniel Morgan is portrayed in white just to the right of center.

In 1781, Morgan, along with forces under Andrew Pickens, defeated the British Colonel Tarleton at the Battle of Cowpens. While I’ll skip the minute details of that Battle, consider this: Morgan's plan at Cowpens is widely considered to be the tactical masterpiece of the Revolutionary War. Additionally, it severely weakened the British forces and led to the ultimate British surrender at Yorktown, securing American independence. In 1790, Congress awarded him a gold medal in to commemorate his victory at Cowpens.

(By the way, if anyone has a Daniel Morgan commemorative medal that you don’t want, I’d love to have one. Its current estimated value is $81,000!)

(Left) The medal features Morgan to the right, his sword pointed groundward as a sign of humility, bowing as "America" places a wreath upon his head. The legend COMITIA AMERICANA DANIELI MORGAN DUCI EXERCITUS may be translated as "The American Congress to Commander of the Army Daniel Morgan." (Right) The main legend VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX translates as "Victory is the defender of liberty." Below, Daniel Morgan is shown mounted and leading the charge at Cowpens. The legend identifies the scene: FUGATIS CAPTIS AUT CAESIS AD COWPENS HOSTIBUS XVII JAN MDCCLXXXI or "The enemy put to flight, captured, or killed at Cowpens, January 17, 1781."

After the war, Morgan dabbled in farming, land ownership and politics. He died on his 66th birthday at his daughter's home in Winchester on his 66th birthday

Where’s the connection? Anyone from my hometown already knows the answer….In 1881 (on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens), a statue of Daniel Morgan was placed in the town square of Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it still stands to this day.

The statue of Daniel Morgan in downtown Spartanburg

“To the American Soldier who on the field of Cowpens, Jan 17, 1781, fought victoriously for the right of Self-Government and Civil Liberty. We enjoy the Result of their toil and sacrifice; let us emulate their fortitude and virtue.”

Connection #2: The painting referenced above ("Surrender of Burgoyne") can be found here in DC. It hangs in the Rotunda of the US Capitol.

31 Days of History: 5 July

On 5 July 1950 (59 years ago today), U.S. forces engaged the North Koreans for the first time at Osan, South Korea. This was the first military engagement between the US and North Korea, and it occurred 11 days after North Korea invaded South Korea (the US and her allies intervened on behalf of South Korea). The 540 men of Task Force Smith engaged the 1,000+ North Koreans who were advancing south towards the town of Osan, South Korea. Before the day was ended, 120 Americans had died (35 captured) and the American position had been overrun by the advancing North Koreans.

In the grand scheme of things, the Korean War doesn't get much publicity and is often overlooked and forgotten. Here in DC, the Korean War Memorial sits adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial, on the opposite side of the Reflecting Pool as the Vietnam Wall. It was dedicated in 1995 by President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, President of the Republic of Korea.

The Memorial is in the form of a triangle intersecting a circle. The walls are 164 feet long, built with 100 tons of highly polished black granite from California: more than 2,500 photographic, archival images representing the land, sea and air troops who supported those who fought in the war are sandblasted onto the wall.



Within the walled triangle are 19 stainless steel statues representing a squad on patrol. They are dressed in full combat gear, dispersed among strips of granite and juniper bushes which represent the rugged terrain of Korea.



The circle contains the Pool of Remembrance, a shallow 30-foot-diameter pool lined with black granite and surrounded by a grove of trees with benches. Inscriptions list the numbers killed, wounded, missing in action, and held as prisoners of war.

A plaque reads, "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

31 Days of History: 4 July

This should come as no surprise.

The United States Declaration of Independence was ratified (adopted) by the Continental Congress on 4 July 1776 (233 years ago today). It proclaimed that the thirteen American colonies were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it was adopted more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.

The Signing of the Declaration of Independence

Written by Jefferson between 11 June and 28 June 1776, the Declaration of Independence is one of our nation's most cherished symbols of liberty. The Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted to declare independence from Great Britain; it sets forth a list of grievances against the King to justify the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.



The National Archives took possession of the original Declaration in 1952, and the document, along with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, are now on permanent display in the "Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom", just off of Constitution Avenue. The original Declaration is has faded badly-largely because of poor preservation techniques during the 19th century-but you can still glimpse a piece of history when you are in town.

The National Archives

Inside the Rotunda

In an unrelated event, but one of my favorite 4 July stories--

During the Revolutionary War, the colonists received much assistance (financial and otherwise) from the French, who were sworn enemies of the British. One of the most notable French soldiers to serve in the American Revolution was Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, or as he is known in America, the Marquis de Lafayette. He served with distinction with General George Washington and provided indispensable advice throughout the Revolutionary War.

The Marquis de Lafayette

General Washington and the Marquis at Valley Forge

Fast forward 136 years, to 1917. After remaining neutral for many years, the United States joined World War I and sent fresh troops to mainland France. The Army's First Division-about 14,500 strong-landed at the port of St. Nazaire in late June. They were under command of General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, who would command the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. (Astute readers will remember that it was Black Jack Pershing who awarded Stubby a medal after the war. Read about it here.)

General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing

The allied commanders had come to a full understanding of the deplorable state of morale for the French people and the French Army. The French Army was totally drained; the British Army had suffered several defeats and were on their knees. The AEF knew that the sight of the fresh American soldiers would have a bolstering effect; had anticipated it for months, in fact. For that reason, a grand reception was prepared in Paris.

On the Fourth of July 1917 (92 years ago today), part of the 16th Infantry Regiment entered Paris. The American military has a long memory when it comes to friends, enemies, and giving honor where honor is due. On that day, the Americans marched through Paris to the Marquis de Lafayette's tomb. Amidst the pomp and circumstance, Colonel Charles E. Stanton, on Pershing's staff, boldly declared, "Lafayette, we are here!"

American troops enter Paris

Pershing and the 16th Regiment pay honors to the Marquis de Lafayette

Pershing is buried in Section 34 of Arlington National Cemetery.

31 Days of History: 3 July

Pickett’s Charge, known as the “High Water Mark" of the Confederacy, took place on this day, 3 July 1863 (146 years ago today) on the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg is often described as the turning point of the American Civil War. 72,000 soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, under command of Robert E. Lee, went to battle with 94,000 Union soldiers under command of George Meade. It was a tragic battle, with 57,000 Americans giving their lives during the three day campaign.

The Battle of Gettysburg as pictured in an 1863 Currier & Ives print

The second day of fighting saw the famous defense of Little Round Top, a small hill just southwest of the town of Gettysburg. The defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Division’s bayonet charge is one of the most fabled episodes in the Civil War and propelled Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain into prominence after the war. (He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his action at Little Round Top, and rose quickly through the Union hierarchy. When Lee surrounded at Appomattox two years later, Col .Chamberlain was given the honor of supervising the official surrender ceremony.)

Col. Chamberlain, awarded the Medal of Honor for his action at Little Round Top

The third and decisive day at Gettysburg included Pickett’s Charge (so named because the division that led the charge was under command of Gen George Pickett). Lee came to the risky conclusion that the center of the Union lines was the weakest, and ordered a full assault at that spot. 12,500 Confederate soldiers attempted to advance ¾’s of a mile uphill and breach the Union lines, but were unsuccessful—over 6,000 Confederates died in the attempt. The point of furthest Confederate advance is referred to as the "High-water mark of the Confederacy", arguably representing the closest the South ever came to its goal of achieving independence from the Union via military victory.

The site of Pickett's Charge; modern day. The Union line was at the line of trees barely visible in the distance

The connection?

First, Gettysburg is a mere 70 miles or so from DC—close enough for this project to be considered local.

Gettysburg National Military Park

Second, in the American History Museum, there is a Bible carried by James H. Stetson at the Battle of Gettysburg. Unfortunately, he was killed during the Battle and it was collected from the battlefield after the Battle.

James Stetson's Bible

Third, it is believed that the Confederate soldier who made it the furthest in Pickett’s Charge was Brig Gen Lewis Armistead, the commander of one of Pickett’s brigades, who stepped up and over the stone wall that the Union troops were using for protection before he was killed in a volley of rifle fire. Armistead was the nephew of Major General George Armistead, the commander of Fort McHenry (outside of Baltimore) during the British attack on Baltimore (during the War of 1812) that inspired the words to the Star Spangled Banner. The flag that flew over Fort McHenry is the centerpiece of American History Museum in downtown DC.

Major General George Armistead

The Armistead Memorial, marking the spot where he was mortally wounded (not my photo)

Fourth, the casualties at Gettysburg were so numerous that instead of trying to relocate all of the dead to their original homes, a National Cemetery was established on the grounds and the dead were buried where they had fallen. It was at the dedication of that cemetery, four months later, that Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech. That speech, remembered to history as “The Gettysburg Address” is engraved in the south wall of the Lincoln Memorial.

. . .that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

31 Days of History: 2 July

I was torn between two possibilities for today, so I went for the more Presidential of the two.

On 2 July 1881 (128 years ago today), the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield was shot at the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Passenger Terminal in Washington, DC (The terminal no longer exists—it was demolished in 1908).



He was shot twice by Charles J. Guiteau, who was upset because his repeated attempts to be appointed as the United States consul in Paris—a position for which he had absolutely no qualifications, despite perhaps a silly-sounding French name—were repeatedly denied by Garfield. (Guitea was found guilty of assassinating Garfield, and was executed by hanging on June 30, 1882)

One bullet grazed Garfield's arm; the second bullet lodged in his spine and could not be found, although scientists today think that the bullet was closer to his lung. Alexander Graham Bell devised a metal detector specifically for the purpose of finding the bullet, but the metal bed frame Garfield was lying on made the instrument malfunction. Because metal bed frames were relatively rare, the cause of the instrument's deviation was unknown at the time.

Six months later, Garfield died from complications from his gunshot wound, making him the second of four Presidents to be assassinated (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy).

(In a very creepy side note, Guiteau's bones and more of his brain, along with Garfield's backbone and a couple of ribs, are kept at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in D.C. on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center).

In the traffic circle at First Street, S.W., and Maryland Avenue stands the James A. Garfield Monument, designed by John Quincy Adams Ward and unveiled on May 12, 1887. At the top of the pedestal stands a statue of Garfield, surrounded by three figures that represent three earlier stages of his life, the Student, the Warrior, and the Statesmen.

The artist's initials (John Quincy Adams Ward)

The Student

The Warrior

The Statesman

31 Days of History: 1 July

Here’s the first of 31 Days of History. Since it’s the first day, we’ll start slowly.

The United States Postal Service was established in 1775 (with Benjamin Franklin serving as the first Postmaster General), but the first stamps weren’t issued until 1847. On 1 July, 1847 (162 years ago today), the first postage stamps were offered for sale in New York City. There were two varieties, a 5¢ and 10¢ stamp. The 5¢ stamp had a picture of Benjamin Franklin, and the 10¢ stamp had a picture of George Washington.

The first US postage stamp, a 5¢ value, with Benjamin Franklin's picture

The 5¢ stamp paid for a letter weighing less than 1 oz and travelling less than 300 miles, while the 10¢ stamp was good for deliveries to locations greater than 300 miles. Each stamp was hand engraved on a steel plate, and laid out in sheets of 200 stamps. The stamps were an immediate success; about 3,700,000 of the 5¢ and about 865,000 of the 10¢ were sold,

George Washington on the 10¢ stamp

(For all you stamp collectors out there---unused stamps are worth around $6,000 and $28,000 respectively, if in very fine condition.)

What’s the connection to DC? The United States Postal Museum is located next door to Union Station, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and North Capitol. It’s got a surprisingly good museum -remember the story of Owner, the Postal Mascot? He can be found here, along with a couple of prime examples of the first stamps.

The National Postal Museum

What's the inscription above the door say?
Carrier of News and Knowledge
Instrument of Trade and Industry
Promoter of Mutual Acquaintance
Of Peace and of Goodwill
Among Men and Nations

Coming Up in the Month of July

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the historical significance of the DC vicinity, but since I really enjoy it, and we have such a limited time in the area, I’m going to start an ambitious project for the month of July. For every day in July, I’m going to highlight a historical event, or person, or connection that occurred on that day and tie it into the DC area. If possible, I’ll throw in some original photos of that event, and attempt to make the connection to yours-truly. Come back on the Wednesday for the first installment.

May 29th and the USS Alliance

The great American historian David McCullough once wrote, "History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are."

It's probably obvious by now, but if it isn't, let me state that I strongly agree. I believe that "history" is not just a one-time isolated event that happened long ago. I believe that "history" affects us all individually--the decisions made by our ancestors, our leaders, even total strangers, all have an impact on who I am today. So when I read history, I read it with an eye towards making a connection (no matter how slight or minor) to who I am, and what I do, and what I believe. Here's an example.

On this day, May 29 1781, the USS Alliance, captured the British HMS Atalanta & Trepassy off the coast of Nova Scotia. How's that connected to me? I'm glad you asked. . .

The USS Alliance was a 36-gun sailing frigate of the American Revolutionary War, later to be famous for having fired the last shot of the war. Her keel was laid down in 1777 on the Merrimack River at Amesbury, Massachusetts and launched on 28 April 1778. Her first, and perhaps most controversial commanding officer was Capt. Pierre Landais, a former officer of the French Navy who had come to the New World in hopes of aiding the US revolution at the expense of his old enemy, the British. The Continental Congress gave him command of Alliance, the finest warship built to that date on the western side of the Atlantic.

The USS Alliance

Unfortunately, Capt Landais was famous for his temper and stubborn refusal to follow orders, and was relieved of duty by Commodore John Paul Jones in 1779 off the coast of France (he was later court-martialed and expelled from the naval service).

In 1781, the Alliance was under command of her new captain, CAPT John Barry, when she was chosen for a special task: carry the US's "envoy extraordinaire" to France to negotiate for additional funds, arms and supplies. As the Alliance was the speediest and most competent ship in US Navy, it was her task to carry the envoy, Col. John Laurens, to Groix Roads. Laurens would be traveling with three companions: Thomas Paine, Major William Jackson, and Louis-Marie, vicomte de Noailles (a French Officer serving in the US).

The Alliance's important passengers (L to R): Col. Laurens, Maj Jackson and Thomas Paine

After delivering her cargo and spending almost almost three weeks in port, Alliance headed home on the afternoon of 29 March. Almost continuous bad weather slowed the Alliance's progress and lightning shattered the frigate's main topmast and carried away many of her sails while damaging her foremast and injuring almost a score of men.



Jury-rigged repairs had been completed when Barry observed two vessels approaching him from windward 10 days later but his ship was still far from her best fighting trim. The two strangers kept pace with Alliance roughly a league off her starboard beam. At first dawn, they hoisted British colors and prepared for battle. Although all three ships were almost completely becalmed, the American drifted within hailing distance of the larger vessel about an hour before noon; Barry learned that it was the sloop of war HMS Atalanta with the smaller Trepassey, also a sloop of war. The American captain then identified his own vessel and invited Atalanta's commanding officer to surrender. A few moments later, Barry opened the inevitable battle with a broadside. The sloops immediately pulled out of the field of fire and took positions aft (behind, for you landlubbers) of the Alliance where their guns could pound her with near impunity. In the motionless air, Alliance - too large to be propelled by sweeps - was powerless to maneuver.



A cannon shot hit Barry's left shoulder, seriously wounding him, but he continued to direct the fighting until loss of blood almost robbed him of consciousness. Capt. Hoystead Hacker, the frigate's executive officer, took command as Barry was carried to the cockpit for treatment.

Hacker fought the ship with valor and determination until her inability to maneuver out of her relatively defenseless position prompted him to seek Barry's permission to surrender. Indignantly, the wounded captain refused to allow this and asked to be brought back on deck to resume command.



Inspired by Barry's zeal, Hacker returned to the fray. Then a wind sprang up and restored the battered frigate's steerage way, enabling her to bring her battery back into action. Two devastating broadsides knocked Trepassey out of the fight. Another broadside forced Atalanta to strike, ending the bloody affair. The next day, after repairs had been made, Alliance sailed for Boston on 6 June with her two captured British ships in tow.

Captain John Barry; the statue of Barry at Independence Square, Philadelphia; an Irish stamp with Barry's likeness

While the British surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown on 17 Oct 1781 (effectively ending the ground war), the war at sea continued until the Treaty of Paris was signed on 3 February 1783. Four weeks later, not knowing that the War had ended, CAPT Barry and the Alliance defeated the HMS Alarm and HMS Sibyl - in company with sloop-of-war HMS Tobago-off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Alliance fired the last shot of the American Revolutionary War.

It's a semi-interesting story (depending upon your interests), but what's the connection?

On her trip to France in 1781, the Alliance was carrying historical figures with a strong connection to South Carolina. Col John Laurens (the "envoy extraordinaire") was born in Charleston, SC and was the the son of Henry Laurens, whom the town and county of Laurens, South Carolin is named after. Many of my in-laws live (or have lived) in Laurens and Laurens County through the years.

Henry Laurens; Laurens County, South Carolina

He was traveling with Maj William Jackson, a British emmigrant who came to Charleston in the 1760s. Jackson served as the secretary to the United States Constitutional Convention and served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the war he served as one of President George Washington's personal secretaries. (Just to clarify, Fort Jackson was not named for him-it named in honor of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States).

If you dig around enough, there's always a connection to the past.

By the way, on 20 Jun 1783, the Alliance struck a rock in Chesapeake Bay. When it was reported that the necessary repairs would be quite expensive, Congress has no funds and sold the Alliance in 1785. She was converted to a cargo ship and sailed to China by a new route through the Dutch East Indies and the Solomon Islands.

Apparently, no details of Alliance's subsequent career have survived. However, when she was no longer seaworthy, the former frigate was abandoned on the shore of Petty Island across the Delaware from Philadelphia. At low tide, some of her timbers could be seen in the sands until her remaining hulk was destroyed during dredging operations in 1901



"History is the memory of things said and done."
Carl L. Becker

History, Hidden in Plain Sight

As a historian, I find that some of the most interesting stories are not the ones you go looking for, but the ones that you stumble across. During the past year, I’ve stumbled across inspiring stories of world-changing events, presidential history, and canine patriotism. The story I’m about to relate is a sobering story of indulgence and excessive opulence—how immense wealth and fortune can negatively influence a family.

This weekend was the annual “Passport DC” event, where many of the 174 foreign embassies in Washington, DC host lectures, events, and most popularly, open houses. A stretch of Massachusetts Avenue, north of DuPont Circle, is commonly known as “Embassy Row” and is home to some of the most extravagant and unbelievable houses in DC. Most of these mansions were originally built for extremely wealthy families in the early 1900’s, but were abandoned or sold during or after the Great Depression.

On Saturday, we rambled through the embassies of Uzbekistan, Trinidad & Tobago, the Bahamas, and most interestingly, the Indonesian Embassy. While I was at the Indonesian Embassy, I saw several names that seemed vaguely familiar. The thread of history dangled in front of me and I was compelled to follow. . . .

Steel drums at the Trinidad & Tobago Embassy

Thomas Francis Walsh (1850-1910) was an Irish-American who came to America as a poor immigrant at the age of 19. He was trained as a carpenter, but was ultimately interested in mining. He eventually discovered one of the largest gold mines in America (the Camp Bird Gold Mine near Ouray, Colorado, which at its peak was producing $5000/day in gold ore. It produced and estimated $30 -50 million and is still an active gold mine!) The man who came to America penniless now lived a lavish lifestyle that included trips to Europe, fine clothes, and expensive motor cars. Overnight, the family went from “wearing red flannel to sleeping under $4,000 silk sheets”. Around 1898, the family (which included his wife, Carrie Bell Read, and two children, Evalyn and Vinson) moved to Washington, D.C. and entered the world of high society, where Tom Walsh was known as the “Colorado Monte Cristo”.

The "Colorado Monte Cristo", Tom Walsh

The Camp Bird Gold Mine; Colorado

In 1903, Walsh finished construction on a new house at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, the most expensive private house built in DC at that time (it cost $835,000 at the time; that’s an astonishing $20.2 MILLION in modern dollars.) The 4 story mansion boasted 60 rooms. Walsh specified to New York architect Henry Anderson that he wanted the main staircase to be reminiscent of an ocean liner, and thus he created an open decked promenade through three floors of carved mahogany. Magnificent, inlaid wood panels covered the walls, and there is even a small pipe-organ in the main dining room. To access the theater and ballroom on the fourth floor, guests rode in one of the earliest residential elevators in America. As testament to his financial beginnings, Walsh had the architect inlay a large piece of gold ore in the arch of the main entrance.

The exterior of "2020"

The Walsh mansion on Mass Ave soon became the scene of some of the most lavish entertaining in Washington, and the Walshes hosted US officials, along with foreign heads of state. The King of Belgium, King Leopold, became a personal friend and often stayed at “2020” when he was in town.

King Leopold of Belgium

In 1910, his daughter (and now only remaining heir) Evalyn became involved with Edward “Ned” McLean. Ned McLean would go on to become the publisher and owner of the Washington Post—but in 1910, he was another spoiled child born into wealth and privilege. He was the son of John Roll McLean (one of the original owners of the Washington Post, and the builder of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Line. The town of McLean, Virginia—where we now live—was named after John McLean!) Ned was born into a life of luxury and as the only heir to the family fortune, lived an extravagant childhood.

Ned & Evalyn; c. 1915

Rather than wait for a high society wedding, the 19 y/o Ned and 24 y/o Evalyn eloped to Europe with $200,000 in spending cash ($100K from each family as a modest wedding gift.) As they traveled around Europe and the Middle East, Evalyn indulged her love of jewelry, purchasing the 92-carat diamond known as the “Evening Star” from Pierre Cartier. At the end of their romantic getaway, the two found themselves back in Paris, unable to pay their hotel bill despite having just come from the casinos at Vichy where Evalyn had won $70,000. A quick telegram back to the parents resolved any cash problems, and Ned found himself with enough cash to buy his new bride a shiny new bauble for a final wedding gift—the 62-carat blue diamond known as The Hope Diamond (picked up for a mere $180,000). (There’s considerable speculation on whether the Diamond was purchased on their honeymoon or two years later, but we’ll stick with the honeymoon story for the moment.)

The Hope Diamond

[In a somewhat-related rabbit trail, the Hope Diamond is one of the most famous diamonds in the world. Many unsubstantiated rumors and legends abound about the Hope Diamond, but this much is a known fact: the Hope Diamond was once part of France’s Crown Jewels, and was often worn by French King Louis XV (at the time, it was known as the “Blue Diamond of the Crown (diamant bleu de la Couronne de France) and weighed an amazing 62 1/8 carats.). In Sep 1792, it was stolen during the French Revolution and eventually made its way to England and the US by the early 1900’s. The Hope Diamond weighs 45.52 carats, and has an estimated value of $300-$350 million US dollars!)

Evalyn Walsh; 1915

Evalyn loved the Hope Diamond, and for the next 30 years, wore it to almost every social function she attended. Pictures from the time captured her with the Hope Diamond around her neck. She loved it so much that she would hide the diamond around the mansion and the children (and later grandchildren) would play a high-priced version of Hide-and-Seek with it.

Evalyn Walsh; unknown date

Evalyn Walsh; 1936

Ned & Evalyn remained a fixture in the DC social scene, and she became close friends and confidantes to Alice Roosevelt Longworth (the oldest child of President Teddy Roosevelt) and Florence Harding, (the wife of 29th President Warren G. Harding). Their parties became the stuff of legend as guests dined on solid gold plates, and their children slept in a solid gold cradle (to be fair, the cradle was a gift from King Albert of Belgium.) Her parties would feature multiple orchestras and bands and sometimes included as many as 2,000 guests.

The McLeans' frivolous spending accelerated during their marriage and their inability to understand the basics of money management resulted in their virtual bankruptcy towards the end of their lives. Together, the couple wasted two family fortunes worth millions (billions in current cash value) by splurging on such exotic things as a million-dollar birthday party for their dog, who was allowed to wear the Hope Diamond on his day of honor. Additionally, the marriage was constantly racked by rumors of by infidelity and substance abuse (Ned was a spectacular alcoholic, while Evalyn was addicted to morphine). The couple divorced in 1929, though the decree was invalidated due to the divorce having been illegally obtained in Lithuania (That’s such an unusual event that I can’t even make any further comments about it.) Ned McLean eventually suffered psychiatric issues (official diagnosis: “Korsakoff's psychosis and brain atrophy from alcohol saturation”) and died in a Baltimore mental institution in 1941.

When Evalyn Walsh McLean died in 1947 (of pneumonia at the age of 60), she bequeathed the Hope Diamond to her grandchildren, though her property would be in the hands of trustees until the eldest had reached 25 years of age, some 20 years in the future. Unfortunately, she left this world with some outstanding debts, so the trustees gained permission to sell her jewelry to settle her debts. In 1949, many of her jewels were sold to New York diamond merchant Harry Winston, who eventually donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian in 1954, mailing it through the US Postal Service in a plain brown envelope.

After the Walshes and McLeans vacated 2020 Mass Ave, the luxurious building switched hands several times before being purchased by the Indonesian government in 1952 for $335,000. We've come a long way since the opening paragraph, and here's some shots of the interior.

The main staircase

The Embassy Dining Room

You can see the Hope Diamond on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

You can check out the exterior of the Indonesian Embassy at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

You can come visit us in McLean, Virginia at any time!

Spring Photos

Historical Landmark of the Month (April): US Navy Memorial (Part I)

I recently mentioned the annual Charging of the Fountains and Blessing of the Fleet at the Navy Memorial. It was an interesting event, and I wanted to give a brief recap. But before I can talk about the event, we need a little historical background on the Navy Memorial.



The United States Navy Memorial sits on Pennsylvania Avenue, about halfway between the Capital and the White House, directly behind the National Archives. If you know your Washington, DC history, you'll remember that DC was the brainchild of Pierre L’Enfant, a French architect who served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War. In 1791, President Washington appointed L’Enfant to design the new capital city. Among his many ideas, L'Enfant envisioned a memorial in the Nation’s Capital to "to celebrate the first rise of the Navy and consecrate its progress and achievements." Congress, however, did not think it was important enough to fund this dream, and for almost 200 years, it never happened.



In 1977, Admiral Arleigh Burke and several other retired Admirals founded the nonprofit US Navy Memorial Foundation with the goal of building the memorial. In 1980, the Foundation had 2 major successes--they received the blessing of Congress to construct a Navy Memorial on public land in DC, and Congress authorized the Memorial, with the stipulation that funding come solely from private contributions.



Construction began in December 1985, and the Memorial was dedicated two years later on October 13, 1987, the 212th birthday of the United States Navy. The Memorial is home to "Memorial Plaza", which features Stanly Bleifield's famous statue, The Lone Sailor. The Lone Sailor overlooks the Granite Sea, an exact replication of the world's oceans and the world’s largest map of the world (additionally, the Sea is accurately lined up with real life. In other words, north on the Granite Sea is truly north.) Surrounding the Granite Sea are two fountain pools, honoring the personnel of the American Navy and the other navies of the world. The southern hemisphere of the Granite Sea is surrounded by 26 bronze bas-reliefs plaques commemorating Naval events, personnel, and communities. Here are a couple of my favorites:


This plaque honors John Paul Jones, one of the Navy's greatest heroes and tradition makers. None of these traditions stands out more conspicuously than his refusal to acknowledge defeat, even against overwhelming odds: "I have not yet begun to fight," he replied, when asked to surrender his ship Bonhomme Richard. This plaque, created by sculptor Fred Press, depicts John Paul Jones, onboard the USS Ranger, in battle with HMS Drake in the Irish Sea. Later, in anticipation of yet another command, Jones set forth his specifications, "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way."



Authorized, established and named on March 5, 1942, the Navy's construction battalions—the world-renowned Seabees—have distinguished themselves in a half century of service in construction and combat. The sculptor for this plaque, Leo C. Irrera, served in the Seabees in World War II.



In this beautiful plaque, sculptor Robert Summers depicts the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864.


For an in-depth look at each of the panels, click here.

The Lone Sailor is one of the most recognizable features of the Navy Memorial. It's cast in bronze, and is comprised of bronze collected from 8 decommissioned US Navy ships. It's a classic image of the Navy and there are 12 reproductions of the statue around the world in various Navy ports (Norfolk, Jacksonville, Bremerton, San Francisco, etc).

The original Lone Sailor in DC.

The Lone Sailor; Burlington, Vermont.

The Lone Sailor; Great Lakes Recruit Training Center

The Lone Sailor; Long Beach, California

The Lone Sailor overlooks the USS Wisconsin; Norfolk, Virginia

The Lone Sailor; Burlington,Vermont (again--I really liked this photo)

The Lone Sailor; Waterloo, Iowa. (There's a great story of why the Lone Sailor is in Iowa...that may come later.)

As a historian who appreciates the power and significance of words, one of my favorite areas is an outdoor wall that records significant sayings in US Navy history. Here's a few of them:

"I have not yet begun to fight!" - Captain John Paul Jones; 1779

"Don't give up the ship!" - Captain James Lawrence; 1813

"We have met the enemy and they are ours." - Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry; 1813

"Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead." - Admiral David Farragut; 1864

"You may fire when you are ready, Gridley." - Commodore George Dewey; 1898

"Sighted sub, sank same" - Aviation Machinist's Mate 1/c Donald Francis Mason; 1942

(If you are curious about the setting of these, and additional, quotes, you can find it here.

Up next, the actual event!

Happy Peepster

With the Cherry Blossom Festival, Easter and family in town, I've been running behind on updating this site. I hope to post some recent photos this week, but until I do, please enjoy this appropriate seasonal treat...the annual Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest. Here are the results from last year's contest--I'll post the 2009 winners in a day or so.

The rules are simple: create a diorama of a famous occurrence, scene or concept. It can be a historic, current or future event. It can be a nod to pop culture. It can be an evocation of an idea or abstraction. The one rule is that all the characters in the diorama must be played by Peeps-everyone's favorite Easter treat!

There were 37 entries--here are a couple of my favorites (with an explanatory note, if needed).

"Peeplona: The Running of the Peeps"

"Peeps Atop a Skyscraper" (Paying homage to one of my favorite photos "Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper" taken in 1932 by Charles C. Ebbets during construction of the RCA Building (renamed as the GE Building in 1986) at Rockefeller Center.) You'll notice the background has been changed to DC, with the White House clearly visible.

The original "Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper"; 1932

"It's a Major Peep Award!"

The diorama pays homage to the movie "A Christmas Story," whose enduring scene features Old Man Parker going gaga over a leg lamp while his horrified wife and excited, albeit confused, boys look on.

"Thrilla in Manila"

A vintage 80's reference to the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video (the video turns 25 this year.)

"SpongeBob SquarePeeps"

A very realistic Spongebob,Squidward, and Patrick.

"Elvis Peepsley"

In a nod to my mother-in-law, "Elvis Peepsley".

"King Peep"

And the winner is: "The Tomb of King Peepankhamun". A piece of serious artwork-even the hieroglyphics are steeped in Peeps imagery. And notice the mummy Peep staggering out of the walls of the tomb!

If you want to see all of 2008's best, just click here.

Historical Landmark of the Month (March-April): Cherry Blossom Festival (Part II)

In case you are coming to town this weekend, here's a couple of events that are happening.

There are four big events this weekend, and three are associated with the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Speaking of cherry blossoms, you can click here to see the real-time Cherry Blossom web-cam.

First: the Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler will go off early Sunday morning. This is a spectacular run under and around the cherry trees at their peak. And yes, I am running, along with about 12,000 other people. Stay tuned for results.



Second: the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade will occur this Saturday along Constitution Avenue, from 7th to 17th streets. I've never been before, so I don't really know what to expect.





Third: Just after the parade ends, the Japanese Street Festival, known as the "Sakura Matsuri" will begin. First held in 1961, the Sakura Matsuri is now the largest one-day exhibition of Japanese culture in the United States.



In case you want some more information, here are some details:



Stretching for nearly one mile through the streets of downtown Washington DC, from near the White House to FBI headquarters, the Sakura Matsuri is held each spring as the climax of the two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival. On good weather days, it has drawn over 140,000 visitors in 7 hours. There's a little bit of everything. as the website claims, "From sushi to origami, from sumo to sake. Japanese arts and crafts and products of all kinds - anime, manga and J-POP music. Traditional dances and dramatic taiko drums."

The Sakura Matsuri is divided into six main areas:
Taste of Japan - with restaurants selling Japanese food
The Ginza Marketplace - selling traditional Japanese products
J-POP Land - celebrating modern, youthful
Japan Performing Arts - featuring traditional Japanese music and dance
Japanese Martial Arts- Japanese Arts and Culture Exhibitions

Fourth: the annual Charging of the Fountains and Blessing of the Fleet at the Navy Memorial. Since this is such a different event from the precious three, I'll cover this in a separate post. (Finally--some history!)