Description

In 1870 the Army Corps of Engineers, headed by Major Nathaniel Michler, began dredging the Potomac to remove silt and improve ship traffic. Dredged material was dumped into the tidal flats along the Washington waterfront. In 1875 the project was expanded to include reclaiming the flats. The initial experiment lasted until 1882, but the reclamation continued until August 30, 1911, by which time contractors had moved over 12 million cubic yards of material from the river to the flats, creating Potomac Park.

Date

07/09/1875

Coverage

1860-1889

Source

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original.