Flood of 1936
Item
Title
Flood of 1936
Description
One of the highest floods to hit Washington, DC, occurred on March 20, 1936. Flood waters crested at the Key Bridge at 18.5 feet. Around the Mall, much of East and West Potomac Parks were underwater, and some cherry trees were killed. Advance warning allowed the Capital Park Service to construct a temporary dike of stone and sandbags from 17th Street near the Washington Monument along the north side of the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial. Later the same year, Congress passed the Flood Control Act of 1936, which included provisions for building permanent levees to protect the National Mall.
Source
National Archives at College Park. View original.
Date
3/20/1936
19360320
Coverage
1920-1949
Type
Environmental Disaster
topic
design & monuments
environment