When Pierre Charles L’Enfant envisioned the capital grid in 1791, he mapped out a grand vision for the nation’s spiritual heart. But due to limited funding and the relentless realities of 19th-century growth, America’s most symbolic landscape—the National Mall—was swallowed by the age of industry. It devolved into a chaotic mix of operational train yards, noxious canals overflowing with sewage, and construction sites blocking the view of our national monuments.

Join us as we uncover how this massive, magnificent space was almost completely unrecognizable for a century. From being the dumping ground of the era to undergoing a dramatic reclamation after the Great Potomac Flood of 1881, discover the crucial fixes that transformed a filthy industrial wasteland into the cherished park we know today.

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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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Scriptwriter - Ryan Socash
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