Today in History: Pennsylvania Avenue
Today in History–May 23–the Library of Congress features Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. On this day in 1865 the Army of the Potomac paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue in celebration of the end of the Civil War. Just weeks before, mourners had watched Abraham Lincoln‘s funeral cortege pass by the same route. A march down Pennsylvania Avenue has been featured in every presidential inauguration march, in the funeral processions of the seven presidents who died in office, as well as in many social movement marches, including the Bonus March of 1932. Learn more about this “grand avenue” by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related primary sources.
Pennsylvania Avenue texts & printed ephemera
Pennsylvania Avenue legislation
Featured Source: Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue guided primary source analysis activities
Related resources