The Chain Bridge is a viaduct which crosses the Potomac River at Little Falls in Washington, D.C. It carries close to 22,000 cars a day. It connects Washington with affluent sections of Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia. In 1919, Chainbridge had a roadhouse on the Virginia side.
Chain Bridge, with the roadhouse on the Virginia side - 1919
Today the Penn Daw / Huntington area of Fairfax County off Rt. 1 is a bustling commercial district filled with big box stores and restaurants but that wasn't always the case.
1941.. Springbank was located where the Walmart is now at Penn Daw on Rt. 1.
Here's what Clarendon looked like in 1949
The Clarendon neighborhood in Arlington County is urban, upscale and sophisticated. Residents here enjoy Metro access, restaurants and shops. In 1949, as evidenced by the picture above, Clarendon was a sleepy small Virginia village. Below, you'll see what Clarendon looks like today.
Ravensworth is in Annandale just outside the Capital Beltway. The area is well-known for single-family homes with big lawns and lots. The area was largely developed in the 1960's and 1970's.
Entrance to Ravensworth Park subdivision in 1960
Our vintage picture of the day is in Arlington showing Lee Highway in the 1930's. The present day location is almost unrecognizable. Most of the structures and even the rail line in his image are long gone.
Looking southbound on Lee Hwy. toward Cherrydale 1930's.
Green Spring Farm is located at 4601 Green Spring Road in Annandale VA. Back in 1940 this structure was dilapidated and ready to crumble but today the site has been fully restored.
Green Spring Farm in 2013Green Spring Farm in Annandale in 1940
Before there was Beacon Hill Shopping Center, the Beacon Mall was in the exact same location. When you look at the picture below, some landmarks and shapes are very recognizable.
For example the water tower and the profile of buildings remains much as it was. Today the "big boxes" of Lowe's and Marshalls are in the same place. Famous Dave's is nowhere to be seen. It's also interesting to notice the cars that are in the lot.
Beacon Mall in the 1970's
Annandale before KMart? Annandale with a movie theatre? Yes, this was Annandale in 1965. Annandale has really changed a lot in the last 50 years, but there are a number of structures that have survived in surprising ways.
Annandale 1965
Annandale is located in Fairfax County inside the Beltway near the West End of Alexandria. Much of Annandale is in the 22003 / Annandale VA zipcode. Annandale is an "Inside the Beltway" suburb offering a mix of affordable condos and townhouses, single-family homes and a few luxury residences.
One hundred years ago trolleys, horses, and horse drawn carts were just as commonplace as automobiles in our nation's capital.
View of F Street, NW from 9th Street looking West. (ca 1900)
