Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
For over a hundred years, Arlingtonians have experienced new modes of transportation that have impacted their ability to travel.
Reagan National Airport in Arlington connects residents with the rest of the nation and the world. The main runway, which handles more than 90 percent of National's traffic, is the busiest in the country, with 819 daily flights in 2023.
However, Arlington’s introduction to flight got off to a rocky start. In 1908, in the early days of flying, Orville Wright brought his new invention to Fort Myer to show off to the US military. Unfortunately, during one of the demonstrations, the plane crashed with Wright and Lt. Thomas Selfridge on board.
Selfridge died from his injuries later that day, becoming the first person and first military personnel to die in an airplane crash. This tragedy did not deter the Wright brothers; soon, the Army would purchase the first military aircraft.
In the following decade, airplanes became a popular choice for long-distance travel. Consequently, Hoover Field opened in 1926 to facilitate passenger flights to and from the District. However, its small size, poor visibility, and proximity to Military Road made it the most hazardous airfield in the country.
In 1933, it merged with the adjacent Washington airport in an unsuccessful attempt to improve safety. Soon, the airport was shut down in favor of the much larger Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport). The land was sold to the US Department of War and became part of the Pentagon. Reagan Airport still serves the Arlington and D.C. communities today, serving millions of passengers.
Sources
- Arlington Historical. “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.” Arlington Historical, arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/95?tour=4&index=1 .
- Center for Local History. “Hoover Field.” Arlington Historical, arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/43?tour=4&index=0 .
- Center For Local History. “Orville Wright Takes Flight at Ft. Myer.” Arlington Public Library, 3 May 2024, library.arlingtonva.us/2023/04/26/orville-wright-takes-flight-at-ft-myer/#:~:text=Orville%20Wright%20came%20to%20Arlington%20in%201908%20to,hopes%20of%20selling%20the%20machine%20to%20the%20Army.
In the late 1800s, as Arlington continued to grow and urbanize, trolleys and railways became vital resources. For work or recreation, Arlingtonians relied on trains as an alternative for quick and easy travel. In 1896, the first electric trolley was installed, eventually running from Rosslyn to Fort Meyer. It gave citizens better access to Mount Vernon and Washington than before, opening the area to public transportation.
The trolley continued operating and providing access to the area until the Great Depression forced its closure. The Autorailer system, a failed hybrid train and automobile experiment, utilized the railway until it, too, was forced to close and sold to Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. These different railway systems made a substantial impact on Arlington. They increased the population, bringing more businesses and families to the area.
By the 1960s public transportation was limited primarily to buses due to the closure of the trolleys. Because of this, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) proposed a new rapid rail system following I-66. Arlington leaders and citizens supported having stations built as it would draw more attention and easy access to the area.
The 1978 opening of the Orange Line in Arlington had a significant impact on the future growth of the county. Metro stations became urban hubs and transformed businesses and housing.
Sources
- Center for Local History. “Arlington’s Autorailer Experiment.” Arlington Historical, arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/98?tour=4&index=2. Accessed 12 June 2024.
- Davis, Steve. “The Story of Smart Growth and the Metro.” Arlington Historical Society, arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/238.
- Tennyson, E.L. “The History of Arlington County’s Electric Railways.” Arlington Historical Society, arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1984-6-Railways.pdf. Accessed 13 June 2024.
- “The Arlington & Fairfax Electric Railway.” Virginia Rails, www.varails.com/trolley-lines/the-arlington-fairfax-electric-railway. Accessed 14 June 2024.
When automobiles were introduced in Arlington's early days, there were primarily dirt roads that were traveled on foot or horse and carriage. These paths connected Arlington's bridges to the rest of the county. They provided necessary accessibility for the time, although they did not allow for much growth in the area.
The main roads of Wilson Boulevard (then Georgetown Road) and Glebe Road existed at the time, though they were not easily traversable. During the Civil War, Union soldiers frequently marched through the area and eventually fortified Wilson Boulevard near Rosslyn as part of the strategic defense of Washington. By the 1920s, many of Arlington's residents were purchasing automobiles, and the demand for new roads and highways grew.
As the community “modernized” in the 1940s, roads were redirected through established neighborhoods to provide comfortable travel through the county. Many shops, restaurants, and neighborhoods lined the streets, enhancing the county's energetic atmosphere. Major routes like the GW Parkway were planned to assist commuters traveling to work in D.C.
Sources
- Arlington Historical. “The History of Wilson Boulevard.” Arlington Historical Society, arlingtonhistorical.com/items/show/252.
- Ball, Frank L. “Electric Railways of Arlington.” Arlington Historical Society, 14 Jan. 1966, arlingtonhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/1966-4-Electric.pdf.
