A lot can change in 50 years, particularly around the nation's capital.
Fueled by the tremendous growth of the federal government, given an added boost after 9/11, the population around the Washington metropolitan area has tripled over the past five decades.
One way you can see the changes is on a map published by a predecessor to Exxon, known to drivers as Esso back then.
Look at this part of the map, showing the eastern side of what would become the beltway.
The core of downtown Washington was radically different. Pennsylvania Avenue was open to traffic along the North side of The White House. One section of the map notes tours of The White House are given between 10 a.m. and 12 noon Tues - Sat. For the F.B.I tour, "activities of 'G-Men' are described." I was personally pleased to see The National Press Club noted on the map.
The Labor Department headquarters was to the west of the present location. An amphitheater, long gone, was in the shadow of the Washington Monument. The wildly popular modern version of the National Air and Space Museum, now along the National Mall, would open over a decade later.
The Labor Department headquarters was to the west of the present location. An amphitheater, long gone, was in the shadow of the Washington Monument. The wildly popular modern version of the National Air and Space Museum, now along the National Mall, would open over a decade later.
The Metrorail system wasn't opened until 1976 and airplane travel was mostly an expensive luxury. The best option for most tourists, driving was regarded as less of a chore and something almost romantic back before Washington became noted for the congestion of its roads. The map is emblazoned with "Happy Motoring!" It probably didn't hurt that a gallon of gasoline cost about 29 cents back in 1963.
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