[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   200TH ANNIVERSARY OF COLUMBIA PIKE

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                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 20, 2010

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I am on the floor today to 
acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the creation of Columbia Pike and 
commend the Columbia Pike community for its achievements as a vibrant 
and visionary community.
  ``The Pike,'' as it is known more commonly to the citizens of 
Arlington, dates back to April 20, 1810, when Congress chartered a 
company to begin construction on the toll road. This legislation, which 
was signed into law by President James Madison, allowed the 
incorporation of a company for making certain turnpike roads in the 
District of Columbia.
  Columbia Pike began as a privately owned toll road providing westward 
access from Long Bridge, situated near the current 14th Street Bridge, 
into Northern Virginia. The road was not paved, however, until 1928.
  Columbia Pike has seen significant change in its two centuries of 
existence. In fact, the road became essential for military purposes 
during the Civil War. Several forts were built in Arlington to protect 
the federal city from attacks, and the Pike served as a means of 
transportation between the forts and district. It is likely that 
President Lincoln travelled on the Pike to Bailey's Crossroads in 1861 
to attend the historic review of federal troops. I feel the road has 
had great historical significance not only for transportation, but also 
for communication and housing. The first cross-Atlantic radio broadcast 
was sent in 1915 from towers in the Penrose neighborhood, in the 
eastern Columbia Pike community, to the Eiffel Tower in France. In 
addition, during periods of rapid growth, such as the New Deal era and 
after World War II, the Pike became home to thousands of Federal 
employees. To accommodate the influx, garden and low-rise apartment 
buildings were constructed along Columbia Pike.
  Today, the road continues to be of great importance and several 
organizations, including the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, 
have dedicated themselves to improving and revitalizing the Pike area. 
Currently, Arlington County is working to establish a new transit 
system along Columbia Pike to improve the area surrounding the Pike 
through advancing redevelopment and increasing and improving local land 
use.
  Columbia Pike has a long and rich history. I wish Columbia Pike and 
its residents a heartfelt 200th anniversary.

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