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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Southwest in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
All Aboard!
River Farms to Urban Towers
— Southwest Heritage Trail —
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By Richard E. Miller, June 7, 2009 | |
| | | 1. All Aboard! Marker. | | |
Inscription.
Before bridges spanned the Potomac, ferry boats took people and goods across the river. You could ride to Alexandria from Greenleaf’s Point (now Fort McNair), or between the landings where today’s 14th Street Bridge touches ground. Sailboats came here from Norfolk, Virginia (and points south) and Baltimore, Maryland (and points north). Unfortunately for Washington’s hopes of international trade, Baltimore and Norfolk had deeper harbors and became thriving ports as the 1800s unfolded. Washington fell behind, focusing more on regional business.
Regular steamboat service began on the Potomac in 1815 between Washington and Aquia Creek, where the Potomac bends near Fredericksburg, Virginia. There passengers disembarked and rode overland to Richmond and the South. Because of political wrangling, travelers heading south from Washington were forced to ride steamboats until around 1860, when a rail connection was finally built linking Washington to Richmond. Still, overnight steamers remained popular until 1957, nearly a century after they were no longer necessary for southern travel.
Washingtonians have long enjoyed cruises from here to amusement parks on the Potomac. African American millionaire Lewis Jefferson, Sr. (1866-1946) ran the Independent Steam Boat and Barge Company at the turn of the 20th century. Jefferson’s | | | | 
By Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009 | |
| | | 2. All Aboard! Marker - photo on reverse. | | "Passengers sprint off the River Queen for the Marshall Hall Amusement Park, around 1920. (Washingtoniana Division, D.C. Public Library.)" | | |
vessels sailed ten miles to Washington Park, his amusement park for African Americans. The businessman, banker, contractor, ship builder, and real estate developer invested heavily in Southwest and was an admired community leader.
Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 11 of 17.)
Location. 38° 52.624′ N, 77° 1.302′ W. Marker is in Southwest, District of Columbia, in Washington. Marker is on Water Street, SW north of Sixth Street, SW. Click for map. Marker is between 6th and 7th Streets, NW, near the entrance to Gangplank Marina, the homeport for many private yachts as well as the large excursion vessel Odyssey and the vintage former Presidential yacht, Sequoia, a National Historic Landmark. Marker is in this post office area: Washington DC 20024, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Escape from Slavery (about 700 feet away, in a direct line); The Law House In Peace and War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blending Old and New (approx. 0.3 miles away); Harbour Square (approx. 0.3 miles away); Linking the "Island" to the City (approx. 0.4 miles away); Titanic Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Benjamin Banneker Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Banneker Circle: Vista to the Past (approx. 0.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Southwest.| | | | 
By Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009 | |
| | | 3. View from marker toward the entrance of Gangplank Marina. | | |
More about this marker. [Captions for photos and reproduced vintage advertisements, front:]
Between 1891 and 1957, passengers traveling overnight on the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Co. followed this route. (Collection of John H. Shaum, Jr.)
Note: This was one of the last published advertisements of the Norfolk and Washington Co. - Washington, D.C.; Alexandria, Va.; Old Point Comfort, Va.; Norfolk, Va.
A detail from this 1883 map looking north along the Potomac River shows Long Bridge (where 14th Street Bridge is today) and more than a dozen working wharves. Ads from 1884 show the array of activity. (Library of Congress.)
The City of Washington, a double-ended side wheeler of the Alexandria & Washington Steamboat Company, ferried passengers and freight between the two cities between 1868 until the 1930s. (Washingtoniana Collection, D.C. Public Library.)
Wealthy civic leader Lewis Jefferson, Sr. operated steamboat cruises to his amusement park on the Potomac and lived in this gracious brick mansion at 1901 First Street. (Mora/Tren, Lewis Jefferson Collection.)
[Photo on reverse:]
Passengers sprint off the River Queen for the Marshall Hall Amusement Park [in southern Maryland], around 1920. (Washingtoniana Division, D.C. Public Library.)
Also see . . . | | | | 
By Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009 | |
| | | 4. Close up of the home of entrepreneur Lew Jefferson, Sr. | | and an ad for his amusement park, downriver in Prince George's County, Maryland. | | |
"The Slightest Semblance of Unruliness": Steamboat Excursions, Pleasure Resorts. and the Emergence of Segregation Culture on the Potomac River." (Submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. Black enterprise; "Jim Crow"; Notley Hall Park; steamboat excursion parks. |
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By Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009 | |
| | | 5. Former Presidential yacht, Sequoia, nearby on the Potomac. | | |
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By Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009 | |
| | | 6. Houseboats moored on the Potomac, off the Harbor Street promenade. | | |
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Credits. This page originally submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 815 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
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