Rosslyn History Exhibit Debuts at Artisphere

Suits, activists, and Rosslyn-residents of all stripes gathered on the top floor of the Artisphere building last night to remember Rosslyn's less-than-glamorous past. A simple timeline painted across the walls of the "Works-In-Progress" gallery traced Rosslyn's place in history. Photos adorning the walls signaled Rosslyn's several-decade transformation from seedy Civil War town to bustling commercial district.

Sponsored by several development companies active in the area (JBG and Monday Properties, to name a couple) the exhibit was less about art and history and more about Rosslyn self-promotion, as a hefty portion of the gallery walls was occupied by large, color photos advertising the next big developments set to grace the Rosslyn streets.

It was clear that Rosslyn Renaissance, a local membership organization that engages the surrounding community in planning and development decisions, takes great pride in Rosslyn's thriving present-day condition. With a stable economy, a wealth of transportation options, and more smart growth development on the way, who could blame them? Rosslyn is evolving from what many outsider think of as simply a cluster of corporate high rises into a dynamic and welcoming community, as recent blogger praise has pointed out.

"With the help of the Artisphere staff, we spent the last couple putting this together," said Executive Director of Rosslyn Renaisance and Rosslyn BID Cecilia Cassidy. "This is all to celebrate twenty years of tremendous achievement." So if walking the streets of Rosslyn, one finds it hard to imagine a rudimentary flock of saloons and brothels once lined the Potomac's banks, then stop by Artisphere for a mini-history lesson. The exhibit is open through March 15.