Down the Old Potomac, a Thomas Edison film of the C & O Canal in 1917. It does not show much of Cumberland or Georgetown, but does include the Paw Paw Tunnel, Harper's Ferry and Great Falls.
Showing posts with label Maryland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maryland. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2012
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sisters of Fortune
A video of Jehanne Wake discussing her recent book, Sisters of Fortune: America's Caton Sisters at Home and Abroad. An interesting account of the granddaughters of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and once the wealthiest man in Maryland. Initially raised in Maryland, three of the four sisters spent most of their adult lives in England. Despite the fact that they were from primitive America, they soon integrated into the upper reaches of British society. On a more parochial note, Catonsville is located on the estate that Charles Carroll bought for their parents.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Dumbarton Rock
A video of Dumbarton Rock in Scotland.
In the 1703 Ninian Beall was granted 795 acres on the hill over looking Rock Creek, and the Potomac River. He named this estate the Rock of Dumbarton, presumably because the view of river from this hill reminded him of the view of the Clyde River from Dumbarton Rock, in his native Scotland.
Beall had an adventurous journey from his homeland to what was then Maryland. In Scotland he fought for the Royalist forces against Oliver Cromwell. He fell prisoner to Cromwell's Army in 1650, was sentenced to five years servitude, and shipped to Barbadoes. In 1652 he was then shipped on to Maryland, to finish his sentence. From here he went on to acquire 1,000's of acres, including a large chunk of what is now Washington, DC. Much of the land was granted to him in return for his services fighting the Indians. More Information here
My apartment building stands on ground that was once part of the Rock of Dumbarton Estate. So here is where it all started.
In the 1703 Ninian Beall was granted 795 acres on the hill over looking Rock Creek, and the Potomac River. He named this estate the Rock of Dumbarton, presumably because the view of river from this hill reminded him of the view of the Clyde River from Dumbarton Rock, in his native Scotland.
Beall had an adventurous journey from his homeland to what was then Maryland. In Scotland he fought for the Royalist forces against Oliver Cromwell. He fell prisoner to Cromwell's Army in 1650, was sentenced to five years servitude, and shipped to Barbadoes. In 1652 he was then shipped on to Maryland, to finish his sentence. From here he went on to acquire 1,000's of acres, including a large chunk of what is now Washington, DC. Much of the land was granted to him in return for his services fighting the Indians. More Information here
My apartment building stands on ground that was once part of the Rock of Dumbarton Estate. So here is where it all started.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Cumberland Road Turns 200
Today marks 200 years since the contract was let to begin construction of the Cumberland Road. Later to become known as the National Road, and then part of U.S. Route 40, this is usually consider the first significant public works project undertaken by the U.S. Government. Starting in Cumberland, MD, the road finally made it to Vandalia, Illinois, in 1838.
The road generated much controversy when it was first proposed, as the Tea Partiers of the day did not believe that the Federal government should do things like build roads. Thomas Jefferson's push for an "Act to Regulate the Laying Out and Making a Road From Cumberland, in the State Of Maryland, to the State of Ohio" was successful, and 200 years later we have an entire Interstate Highway System—for better or worse.
This road has it's own web site, The Cumberland Road Project, with a complete gallery of photographs. Of course none of the photographs go back to 1811, but they are still interesting. Here is one of the photographs of the Toll House west of Cumberland. I am not sure what it is about the photo, but the people in it look amazingly small to me. Also, I don't think the original travelers rode a trolley.
The road generated much controversy when it was first proposed, as the Tea Partiers of the day did not believe that the Federal government should do things like build roads. Thomas Jefferson's push for an "Act to Regulate the Laying Out and Making a Road From Cumberland, in the State Of Maryland, to the State of Ohio" was successful, and 200 years later we have an entire Interstate Highway System—for better or worse.
This road has it's own web site, The Cumberland Road Project, with a complete gallery of photographs. Of course none of the photographs go back to 1811, but they are still interesting. Here is one of the photographs of the Toll House west of Cumberland. I am not sure what it is about the photo, but the people in it look amazingly small to me. Also, I don't think the original travelers rode a trolley.
The Cumberland Road Project
Photo Gallery
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Maryland Water Crossings
A two part video from the Maryland State Highway Administration on water crossings in Maryland, including the Casselman Bridge and Montgomery Meigs' Union Arch Bridge.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Out of the Mud
The Maryland State Department of Transportation has produced some good videos, Including this two part video. It has a lot of historic photographs and film.
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