Southwest Waterfront in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
All Aboard!
River Farms to Urban Towers
| | Southwest Heritage Trail | |
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, June 7, 2009
1. All Aboard! Marker.
Before bridges spanned the Potomac, ferry boats took people and goods across the river. You could ride to Alexandria from Greenleafs Point (now Fort McNair), or between the landings where todays 14th Street Bridge touches ground. Sailboats came here from Norfolk, Virginia (and points south) and Baltimore, Maryland (and points north). Unfortunately for Washingtons 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.
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Erected by Cultural Tourism DC. (Marker Number 11.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Entertainment • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Southwest Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1815.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 52.624′ N, 77° 1.302′ W. Marker was in Southwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It was in Southwest Waterfront. It was on Water Street Southwest west of 6th Street Southwest, on the right when traveling south. Marker is between 6th and 7th Streets Southwest 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. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 610 Water Street Southwest, Washington DC 20024, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, February 18, 2020
2. The previous general location of the All Aboard! Marker
This view is towards the northwest from the corner of Maine Avenue SW and Water Street SW, in front of the St. Augustine's Episcopal Church. The marker would have been about 50 meters in the distance but the entire area is a large construction site as part of Phase 2 of The Wharf construction project.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); World War II (within shouting distance of this marker); Long Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackie Kennedy (within shouting distance of this marker); Wharves and Piers (within shouting distance of this marker); Gangplank Marina (within shouting distance of this marker); The Island (within shouting distance of this marker); Elvis Presley (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southwest Washington.
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
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009
3. View from marker toward the entrance of Gangplank Marina.
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.)
Additional keywords. Black enterprise; "Jim Crow"; Notley Hall Park; steamboat excursion parks.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009
4. Former Presidential yacht, Sequoia, nearby on the Potomac.
Photographed by Richard E. Miller, June 27, 2009
5. Houseboats moored on the Potomac, off the Harbor Street promenade.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,081 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on March 8, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on February 21, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
