Two worlds that were co-existing in the 1950s Southwest:
A close-knit African American neighborhood on its way out and a highly modern, mostly white neighborhood on its way in.
Before the Bulldozers is an audio and augmented reality journey exploring the history of the redevelopment of the Southwest neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Using GPS, this Walking Cinema app guides you from site to site through D.C.’s Southwest Neighborhood, telling the story of the country’s first large-scale urban renewal project—a project that uprooted 23,000 people and knocked down nearly 5,000 buildings to create an entirely new neighborhood. This short walk presents two worlds that were co-existing in the 1950s Southwest: A close-knit African American neighborhood on its way out and a highly modern, mostly white neighborhood on its way in.
These neighborhoods are being captured, shaped, and fought for by two massive creative minds: the old neighborhood by the amateur photographer Joseph Owen Curtis, and the new neighborhood by architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith. As you walk, you alternate viewpoints and see how vastly different concepts of social benefit are still reflected in the
visual landscape.
Produced in partnership with the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, The DC Public Library, The African American Photographers Association, and Google Pixel.
Impact
Produced an innovative, outdoor exhibit that ran even when the museum was closed for COVID
Garnered two Webby Award nominations
Led to a Google donation of technology to enable large group experiences of the project.
Project formed a bridge to important partner organizations such as the DC Public Library, Arena Stage Theater, and the African American Photographers Association
Download the Project
About the Experience
A site specific podcast with AR and hands-on history experiences
In keeping with the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s mission to bring history to DC’s neighborhoods, this site-specific exhibit plays out like a podcast you walk into. Audio and AR lead audiences through the historic Southwest neighborhood on the trail of a missing African American neighborhood. Along the way, audiences discover hidden artifacts and places with special access to small exhibits the complement the story. Download is free and runtime is about an hour. Starts at the Waterfront Metro Station in Southwest, Washington, D.C.
Technology
In keeping with the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s mission to bring history to DC’s neighborhoods, this site-specific exhibit plays out like a podcast you walk into. Audio and AR lead audiences through the historic Southwest neighborhood on the trail of a missing African American neighborhood. Along the way, audiences discover hidden artifacts and places with special access to small exhibits the complement the story. Download is free and runtime is about an hour. Starts at the Waterfront Metro Station in Southwest, Washington, D.C.
Augmented Reality
GPS
Audio Tour
Audio Sample
In this scene our main character and tour guide, Imani, recalls tension in a childhood friendship around her grandparents’ role in “removing” the former African American neighborhood that once thrived there.
Sound design by Sasha Mandel
Written by Cleavon Smith and Michael Epstein.
Photo Gallery
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Bulldozing the Talma Torah Synagogue, 1950’s.
Jewish residents had been exiting the neighborhood for decades at the time redevelopment, but the loss of their shops and religious sites was devastating.
Photo Credit: DC PUBLIC LIBRARY WASHINTONIANA DIVISION
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Southwest “Slums,” 1940’s
Much of the effort to “clean up” Southwest had to do with its proximity to the Capitol Building.
PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL EPSTEIN
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James V. Forrestal Building, 1960’s
Modern architecture favored order and suspension above the street, rather than messy, frequent sidewalk interactions.
PHOTO CREDIT: HISTORICAL AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY
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Southwest Freeway, 1960’s
The fad for ring roads and quick access to growing suburbs, choked and cut off neighborhoods like Southwest by surrounding them with highways.
PHOTO CREDIT: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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Harbour Square Apartment Building, 2022
”Southwest is the best piece of real estate in Washington and should be highest class.” Chloethiel Woodard Smith, 1959 Memo
PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL EPSTEIN
Awards
2023 Sound Scene
Official Selection
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
2023 Webby Awards
Nominee
Public Service & Activism, Metaverse, Immersive & Virtual
2023 Webby Awards
Honoree
Podcasts: Experimental and Innovation
Talent
Michael Epstein, Director
Michael is a screenwriter, transmedia director, and expert in place-based storytelling. He co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the story.
Crystal Judkins, Sound Designer
Crystal “Xperience J” Judkins is a self-published author, songwriter, poet, sound designer, and all-around creative from Alexandria, Virginia. She also did the sound design for the story.
Elissa Mardiney, Producer
Elissa is an audio producer for Walking Cinema. She researched, project-managed, and produced the story.
Maxim Antinori, Developer
Max is a web and mobile app developer specializing in interactive educational media. Before joining Walking Cinema, Max worked at Tom Snyder Productions, Inc.
Joshua Frankel, AR Creator
Joshua Frankel is a visual artist working in a range of old & new media, including printmaking, film, drawing, printmaking, public art, opera, and—most of all—animation. He created AR experiences for the app.
Aynne Valencia, Designer
Aynne is a Professor and Design Anthropologist. She did visual and UX design for the mobile application and website.
Matthew J. Koehler, Reporter
Matt is a freelance writer and reporter based in Washington, DC. He helped with on-site, in-person reporting, and research.
Dave Yanofsky, Content
Dave has an extensive background in media and education and has been operating at the intersection of the two over the bulk of his career. He managed and created the educational content for this project.
Press & Articles
Anacostia Community Museum Launches Augmented-Reality Tour of Southwest D.C
“Before the Bulldozers: Historic Southwest D.C. Exposed” is a new app-based walking tour from the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum that leads users...
Before the Bulldozers’ gives audien-ces eyes and ears to the historic stories that shaped Washington, D.C.
Created in partnership with Walking Cinema, “Before the Bulldozers” revives stories from those who witnessed, documented and participated in the neighborhood’s evolution...
“Before the Bulldozers” Explores the Impact of Urban Renewal on the Neighborhood
Starting in 1950, Southwest became one of the first and largest neighborhoods in the country targeted for “urban renewal,” a process in which the federal government...
Alum Michael Epstein, ’04, and Walking Cinema launch Before the Bulldozers
Created in partnership with the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Before the Bulldozers is a new app-based walking tour that leads...
Walking tour takes you through ‘turbulent redevelopment’ of Southwest DC
A walking tour through historic Southwest aims to tell the story of the people who lived there and the “turbulent redevelopment” that changed the landscape of the neighborhood...
New app-based walking tour leads users through historic Washington, D.C.
As part of the museum’s yearlong focus on housing justice, “Before the Bulldozers” recalls the Southwest community—and its displacement—in vivid detail...
The Anacostia Community Museum: 2022 in Review
This past year the museum focused on issues related to housing through the development of our first online exhibit, “We Shall Not be Moved: Stories of Struggle from Barry...”