An interesting aspect of the car hobby came up in a recent thread

@terryslekar, I've heard that before, Terry. As a resident of the DC area, I have always wondered where that notion began to get traction. Almost everyone I know outside the region believes it to be true. Here's what the Smithsonian says, click here. 

Very interesting article - thanks!  I've been living in the DC metro area since the late '70s (currently in Columbia, just a mile or so from Merriweather Post Pavilion).

I recall first hearing the "swamp" story way back then - maybe it's that post Civil War "revitalizing the mudflats" part that led to the story...good data!

Yup! I heard it when I first moved here too. We were down on the mall, visiting the museums one day and listening to a lecture on L'Enfant and the design of the city when the speaker brought up the subject. 

EOM