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Evidently, Norris argued, it was time for something better.Ĭongressmen went back and forth. As he suffered through the summer of 1916, he kept pushing Congress to fund some type of large-scale swimming facility in a city with “one of the most trying climates in the United States and inadequate bathing conditions.”  The District had one municipal pool, for whites only, and it could only accommodate 600 swimmers a day, although at times it held more than 2,000. A report conducted in late 1915 found that the Tidal Basin was filled with wastewater and sewage: not exactly ideal for a nice dip. It concluded the waters were entirely too polluted for a bathing beach. īut unfortunately, Congress’ response was what would be expected today if such an idea arose. Often called Twining Lake, it was more of a lagoon than the concrete-walled pond of our time, and many were already swimming there. The basin had been completed in 1896 as a visual centerpiece of the National Mall and as a tool for flushing the Washington Channel. He asked Congress for $50,000 and the creation of a special committee to transform the Tidal Basin into D.C.’s own vacation spot.

Apparently, the senator had some trouble adjusting to the city’s swampy summers and was jealous of many Northern cities’ booming seaside resorts. Senator George Norris of Nebraska first introduced the idea of a public beach for D.C. For many, there was a veritable beach they could visit smack-dab in the middle of downtown D.C. In this regard, Washingtonians of the 1920s were a little luckier than us. With temperatures climbing into the 90s, not to mention the humidity, I think most all of us wish that our closest vacation getaway were closer. It’s that time of year again, and let’s be honest: I can’t be the only one dreaming of relaxing on a beach somewhere. Swimmers of all ages enjoy the Tidal Basin Bathing Beach in 1922.