Washington in the 90s

Beginning in the 1980s, refugees from war torn Central American countries began settling in D.C.'s Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods. Language and cultural barriers created tensions with the law enforcement. On May 5, 1991, these tensions boiled over into riots after a police officer shot a Salvadorean man. As Tom Sherwood called it, the riots were a "grow-up moment for the city."

As the first baby-boomer president, President Clinton brought a sense of relatability and youthful energy to the nation's capital. He broke the security bubble surrounding presidents and engaged with the city's residents, venturing into neighborhoods and jogging through the streets. His presence revitalized the atmosphere, bringing a dynamic and lively vibe to Washington, even if only temporarily.

Facing competition from new venues like the Black Cat, the 9:30 Club moved into a much larger space on V Street in 1996. The revamped club opened with two sold-out shows headlined by the Smashing Pumpkins.

Discover AOL's remarkable rise from a Washington-based start-up to a global Internet sensation during the 1990s. When AOL's pioneering efforts revolutionized the digital landscape, it transformed the Washington, DC-area into a dynamic hub of technological innovation.

WETA TV 26 takes viewers on a journey through a time not long ago, but which now seems a world away. Washington in the 90s recounts the major events, people and places of a decade in which the District of Columbia transitioned from a city of crisis, to a city of opportunity.

Step back to the world of Washington, DC politics in 1990, as Sharon Pratt Dixon emerged as a formidable candidate for the mayoral race following a political vacuum left by Marion Barry. A fresh face in politics, she embodied change, determination, and a promise to clean house in the city.

The nation's capital screeched to a halt when the so-called "Blizzard of '96" dumped over 17 inches of snow on Washington, January 6-8, 1996. Strange sights -- like cross country skiers on city streets -- abounded as Washingtonians dug out.

The 1990s witnessed a series of significant marches in Washington. However, the event that captured the nation's attention was the Million Man March in 1995, organized by Minister Louis Farrakhan. Controversial yet impactful, the march aimed to promote unity, responsibility, and accountability among African-American men, leaving a profound sense of brotherhood and hope for a different future.

Marion Barry's shocking arrest in January 1990 sent shockwaves through the nation's capital, leaving residents stunned. The subsequent trial revealed video footage of Barry engaging in drug use, etching a lasting image in the public's memory. While many viewed Barry as a punchline and symbol of scandal, others felt sympathy and saw him as a hometown hero facing personal struggles.

The arrival of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Downtown Washington, DC began a process of revitalization for the neighborhood now known as DC's Chinatown. But when the city broke ground on the MCI Arena — now Capital One Arena — in 1995, the neighborhood really took off. Popular DC Mayor Marion Barry was a driving force for the project, partnering with DC real estate magnate Abe Pollin.