Monday, January 11, 2027
GMU Van Metre Hall, Room 113
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

In 1825 The Marquis de Lafayette stood at the portico of Arlington House atop Arlington National Cemetery and declared the panorama of the Potomac River and the fledgling city the finest view in the world.  Our presentation draws on rare photographs and maps largely taken from the hills, towers, rooftops, and aircraft above Washington D.C. and the Potomac to consider how the view from those steps has changed in the last two centuries, spanning from the Chain Bridge on the left to today’s National Airport on the right.  Since 1825, the river banks have evolved from farmland to forts, from bridges to cannon batteries, and from airports to amusement parks.

Roger A. Mola retired from Smithsonian/Air & Space after 20 years as a researcher and video editor. He has more than 1,000 published articles on aviation and aerospace and was honored as an Aerospace Journalist of the Year in 2002.  He has collected thousands of photos and historical documents and gives lectures at museums, libraries and historical societies.  Roger is a resident of Arlington.

This in-person event is free and open to all. Registration is required as seating is limited. Please register no later than Jan. 7, 2027. If you are not an Encore Learning member, please email info@encorelearning.net to register. 

Location: George Mason University, Van Metre Hall, Room 113, 3351 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22201.

Please visit https://encorelearning.net/parking/ for garage parking details. Metered street parking is also available in the area.

This is an Encore Learning Presents event.

We look forward to seeing you there. Please email questions to info@encorelearning.net. Thank you!