National Park Service: Highways in Harmony (Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway)

Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Washington, D.C.

		ROCK CREEK AND POTOMAC PARKWAY TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENTS

???-1600s		Native Americans fish, camp, and quarry stone along Rock Creek
1608		Captain John Smith exploring the Potomac River is first European to sight Rock Creek
1751		Georgetown established
1788		First bridge over Rock Creek constructed at M Street
1791		Rock Creek serves as border of Pierre L'Enfant's plan for the Federal City
1828		Chesapeake and Ohio Canal begun; completed from Rock Creek to Cumberland, Maryland in 1850.
1858		Construction of Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge carrying Washington aqueduct over Rock Creek
1867		U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first proposes to build avenues along Rock Creek
1890		Rock Creek Park created to preserve woodlands surrounding upper Rock Creek valley
1890s		Increasing pollution spurs proposals to improve conditions along lower valley
1901		Senate Park Commission includes parkway along Rock Creek in its plan for beautifying Washington
1907		"Million Dollar Bridge" at Connecticut Avenue completed
1913		Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway created by act of Congress
1920s		Parkway land acquired and construction begun
1936		Construction of bridge at P Street completes parkway
1937		One-way rush hour traffic policy instituted to relieve congestion
1940		Rock Creek rechanneled to eliminate wide bend south of P Street, creating "P Street Beach"
1950s		Highway officials try to convert parkway into high-volume expressway
1960s		Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and freeway ramps constructed over south end of parkway
1966		Zoo tunnel completed
1971		John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts completed
1970s		Construction of subway to northwest suburbs eases commuter pressure to upgrade parkway
1993-95		William Howard Taft Bridge renovated

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