Boundary Stones

A “One Man Crime Wave” Came to a Stunning End in 1980... It's Impacts Remain

On December 5, 1980, renowned Washington, D.C. cardiologist Dr. Michael Halberstam was shot during a burglary at his home. Bleeding heavily, the doctor jumped in his car and ran over his assailant while driving himself to Sibley Hospital, where he died. The odd chain of events was just the tip of the iceberg in one of the strangest true crime stories in D.C. history.

A “One Man Crime Wave” Came to a Stunning End in 1980... It's Impacts Remain

3m 34s

  • How Smokey Bear Became an Icon and a Real Life Neighbor in Washington DC: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Smokey Bear Became an Icon and a Real Life Neighbor in Washington DC

    4m 9s

    In 1950, an orphaned bear cub was rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico and brought to Washington to live at the National Zoo. Named "Smokey" after the popular Forest Service character, the cub became a real life advocate for fire prevention and got so much fan mail that the U.S. Postal Service gave him his own private D.C. zipcode.

  • Washington, D.C.’s First Election Riot: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Washington, D.C.’s First Election Riot

    2m 46s

    Even in Washington, D.C.'s long and complex history of suffrage, the deadly election riot of June 1, 1857, stands out. That was the day anti-immigrant rioters — armed with sledgehammers, pistols, and even a cannon — attempted to win an election through brutal violence at the polls, clashing with police and forcing President James Buchanan to order out the United States Marines.

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