One of Bladensburg’s most historic mansions is rarely seen by the public, but it has an important story to tell about the area’s past, as well as America’s. Built in 1746, the Bostwick House has not been renovated to the … Continue reading →

One of Hyattsville’s most notable pieces of architecture is sadly lost to history. The Hyattsville train station for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was the largest between Baltimore and Washington and considered one of the most ornate. “Hyattsville had one … Continue reading →

Christian Heurich ran a brewery in D.C. for a living, but he ran a successful dairy farm in Hyattsville almost as a hobby. After immigrating to the United States in 1866 with just $200, Heurich (pronounced HOY-rick) eventually became the … Continue reading →

The phrase “George Washington slept here” is the historical equivalent of one of those ubiquitous ad slogans like “nothing’s proven stronger”: It’s true, but you might want to check the fine print. The George Washington House in Bladensburg is a … Continue reading →

More than a century before the Wright Brothers, a Bladensburg innkeeper made a sometimes-overlooked chapter in aviation history by successfully launching the first unmanned and manned hot air balloon ascensions in the United States. The year was 1784, and America … Continue reading →

Henri Joseph Stier didn’t intend to become an American or build what is known today as Riversdale. A wealthy Belgian, he fled with his family when Napoleon Bonaparte’s armies took over the country, ending up living in a rented mansion … Continue reading →

A new book explores the sometimes-overlooked automotive history of the Route 1 corridor between Washington and Baltimore. “Images of America: US Route 1 Baltimore to Washington, D.C.” includes a trove of historical photographs taken by government workers who maintained what … Continue reading →