Greenbelt, largest and most successful of the New Deal towns

Greenbelt

September 30, 1937

Categories: American Innovation, Government, Urban
Tags: 1900 – 1940, Prince George's County

The first residents move into Greenbelt, the largest and best known of the New Deal’s federally-funded “greenbelt towns.” Greenbelt becomes an important model for other planned communities and America’s move to the suburbs. The new community initially has segregated housing in Jim Crow America.

For More Information

Greenbelt Museum

View Other Mosaic Pieces

America’s first drag queen is born enslaved in Hancock

William Dorsey Swann, born enslaved in Hancock, becomes America’s first drag queen, sponsoring “drag balls” in DC. He is arrested in 1896 and serves 10 months in jail.

Reaper developed on Carroll County Farm

Jacob R. Thomas, a Carroll County farmer, assembles a wheat reaping machine in 1811 and tries it out locally. It doesn’t cut well, but the first experiment with a mechanical reaper ushers in the age of agricultural machinery.

Printer Mary Katherine Goddard is first to print Declaration with all the signers names

Baltimore printer Mary Katherine Goddard is first to publish the entire Declaration in 1777 with names of all signers. She adds her own name at the bottom.