There was Once a Major Canal Along the National Mall

An 1862 map shows that the Washington City Canal ran along the north side of the mall, on what is today Constitution Avenue, toward the site of the Capitol Reflecting Pool (the Mall itself was much smaller, ending at the site of the Washington Monument):

This is a view from the Capitol Building looking West, you can see the Smithsonian Castle at center-right and Maryland Avenue SW at the left:

It existed from 1815 to 1871, when it was filled in. Here's another, illustrated, depiction:

Vintage Crossfire Stills

CNN is rebooting it's classic political debate show, Crossfire, which aired from 1982 to it's cancellation in 2005. Here's a look back at some vintage stills, all from Youtube:

1. Promo stills featuring Dick Gephardt and Newt Gingrich, who happens to be one of the four new hosts who will reboot the show.

2. The old set and logo:

3. Former President Nixon in 1984:

4. A young Rush Limbaugh:

5. The old title sequence:

6. A young Congressman, Joe Scarborough:

7. A very old logo:

8. Former 1984 VP candidate, the late Geraldine Ferraro: