Ep 9. Washington D.C.: Seat of Power

Since the country's founding, Washington D.C. has served as the epicenter of American political power and influence. But beneath the city's pristine parks, grand monuments and immaculate architecture lies a dark and hidden world that tells the story of a city's rise to power.

In this episode of Cities of the Underworld, host Don Wildman and his team journey deep beneath the streets of Washington D.C. to explore the secrets of the city's subterranean past.

The episode begins with a visit to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a top-secret bunker built beneath the White House during the Cold War era. Here, Don and his team learn about the bunker's purpose and design before heading out to explore the city's other underground spaces.

Next, the team visits the Dupont Circle station, a metro station that was once home to one of the city's most infamous speakeasies during prohibition. Now, the station's remnants serve as an eerie reminder of the city's illicit past.

Don and his team then travel to Capitol Hill, where they explore the underground tunnels and chambers that make up the backbone of the U.S. legislative system. The episode offers an intriguing glimpse into the hidden passages and secret rooms where lawmakers have conducted their business for centuries.

Moving on to renowned Georgetown University, the team investigates the dark and mysterious underground tunnels located beneath the campus. These tunnels are not only steeped in mystery and intrigue but also played a key role in shaping the school's history.

As the episode nears its end, Don and his team visit the National Mall, where they delve beneath the sprawling lawns and monuments to explore the city's drainage system. This network of tunnels and sewers, while less glamorous than some of the city's other underground spaces, has played a crucial role in shaping the city's development over the past century.

Finally, the team visits the site of one of the city's most infamous underground locations: the Dupont Underground. This former streetcar station has been repurposed in recent years as a space for artists, musicians, and other creative types to showcase their work. The site serves as a reminder of the city's hidden depths and the ways in which these spaces have been repurposed over time.

Overall, this episode takes viewers on an informative and fascinating tour of Washington D.C.'s hidden history. From top-secret Cold War-era bunkers to illicit speakeasies and mysterious underground tunnels, the city's subterranean spaces offer a wealth of stories that are brought to life in this enthralling episode of Cities of the Underworld.