The Palisades in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The General Lafayette sign on the side of the garden
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 11, 2023
1. The General Lafayette sign on the side of the garden
Marker
The General Lafayette sign on the side of the garden has an interesting history. That nameplate was once on the side of the Amtrak Lounge car 3123. When Amtrak took charge of all U.S. passenger service in 1971, it inherited cars from over 40 different railroads. The General Lafayette was built by the Budd Railcar Company in Philadelphia in 1951 for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was numbered 7131. A picture of that car painted in the Tuscan Red and Silver livery is shown here. This car was part of a 64 car order to create the Morning Congressional and Afternoon Congressional (NY-DC) and the Senator (DC-Boston). The Lafayette was one of 18 first class parlour cars which had 22 seats and a drawing room for meetings. All the parlour cars carried names of Revolutionary War heroes or early Colonial leaders such as Betsy Ross, Paul Revere, Nathan Hale, Roger Morris or William Penn. The Congressionals began operation in early 1952 and lasted until 1971.
Amtrak rebuilt this car and a number of its sister cars into lounge cars. A photo of that car is also shown. This car saw service throughout the system but its last assignment was on the NY-Montreal Adirondack train. The car was eventually retired in the mid-1990s and stored in Beech Grove, Indiana.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars
this page online
Location. 38° 55.474′ N, 77° 6.193′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The Palisades. It can be reached from Sherier Place Northwest east of Edmunds Place Northwest, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5110 Sherier Pl NW, Washington DC 20016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is 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 marker: As you are on the old Glen Echo Trolley line (here, next to this marker); Palisades Recreation Center (within shouting distance of this marker); World War II (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Navigation of the Potomac (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Abner Cloud House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Glenmore (approx. half a mile away in Virginia); Battery Kemble Park (approx. half a mile away); Carolina Park: Archaeology and History in the Palisades (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Abner Cloud Mill (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Abner Cloud House (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 11, 2023
2. The General Lafayette sign on the side of the garden
Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
