David Ramos
@imagineterrain.bsky.social
Designer/design educator in Washington, D.C. Making maps/systems to help us imagine landscapes past + future. Lost streams,🚲🛶🌊 On the web — imaginaryterrain.com
Pinned
David Ramos
@imagineterrain.bsky.social
· Sep 24
A pinned collection of map projects, starting with "Lost Streams of Washington, DC," and "From Bay to Mountains," the Chesapeake Bay region's railroads, past and present.
There's been a Marine helicopter, a big VH–92 from HMX–1, going back and forth across the middle of DC since at least 3 pm, and I can only conclude that this is some deranged "show of force."
November 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
There's been a Marine helicopter, a big VH–92 from HMX–1, going back and forth across the middle of DC since at least 3 pm, and I can only conclude that this is some deranged "show of force."
Muskrat
Horseshoe crab
Wild turkey
Sea nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei)
Blue crab
Horseshoe crab
Wild turkey
Sea nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei)
Blue crab
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild:
Piping plover
Woodland box turtle
Cricket frog
Beaver
Wavy-lined emerald caterpillar
Piping plover
Woodland box turtle
Cricket frog
Beaver
Wavy-lined emerald caterpillar
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild:
Octopus
Marmot
Tanuki
Owl
Orca
Octopus
Marmot
Tanuki
Owl
Orca
November 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Muskrat
Horseshoe crab
Wild turkey
Sea nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei)
Blue crab
Horseshoe crab
Wild turkey
Sea nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei)
Blue crab
It's 11:45 pm EST on Thanksgiving evening, and there is exactly one military aircraft showing on ADS–B in all of the Continental US. (The plane up over Vancouver Island is a RCAF rescue squadron.)
November 28, 2025 at 4:56 AM
It's 11:45 pm EST on Thanksgiving evening, and there is exactly one military aircraft showing on ADS–B in all of the Continental US. (The plane up over Vancouver Island is a RCAF rescue squadron.)
It's good to see @hiddenhydrology.bsky.social on here. Excellent compiler of hydrographic history work across North America, along with a focus on Seattle.
Been researching tons of historical images (maps, photos and illustrations) of Seattle for the book project... (More to come on that). There are such great stories, and images really punch up the narrative. I thought it'd be fun to post some #hiddenhydrology related ones here.
November 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It's good to see @hiddenhydrology.bsky.social on here. Excellent compiler of hydrographic history work across North America, along with a focus on Seattle.
Please do go on about how you hear so many more helicopters in SE DC than in NW.
November 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Please do go on about how you hear so many more helicopters in SE DC than in NW.
This is an unexpected one: using Grasshopper to calculate the weight, displacement, and waterline of a turtle basking platform. (Still in very preliminary form.)
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This is an unexpected one: using Grasshopper to calculate the weight, displacement, and waterline of a turtle basking platform. (Still in very preliminary form.)
Periodic reminder that, prior to the razing of the East Wing, McCrery Architects' most prominent commission was the plinth under the statue of Ronald Reagan in the Capitol Rotunda.
November 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Periodic reminder that, prior to the razing of the East Wing, McCrery Architects' most prominent commission was the plinth under the statue of Ronald Reagan in the Capitol Rotunda.
Glenstone last Sunday, with meadows in excellent form, full of seedheads, a study in oranges and golds.
November 26, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Glenstone last Sunday, with meadows in excellent form, full of seedheads, a study in oranges and golds.
Muriel Bowser will not run for re-election.
Quite the pre-Thanksgiving news: Mayor Muriel Bowser will not seek a fourth term in office. That's a huge opening a mayoral race that still doesn't have any major candidates in it, but with possible entries from Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.
November 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Muriel Bowser will not run for re-election.
When I see Terry Lynch's campaign signs, I think that the candidate is running for Alaska's senate seat. Possibly because the green blob isn't actually the shape of Ward 1.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
When I see Terry Lynch's campaign signs, I think that the candidate is running for Alaska's senate seat. Possibly because the green blob isn't actually the shape of Ward 1.
Reposted by David Ramos
What's left of the original RFK Stadium in DC.
November 24, 2025 at 2:12 AM
What's left of the original RFK Stadium in DC.
New town problems! From the Takoma Park council minutes, Dec. 2, 1901. The town borrowed a rope, but damaged it. They need to make their neighbor whole, and besides, the town really needs to own a rope and 60 ft of its length are still good. Expenditure of $5 to buy the rope, approved.
November 24, 2025 at 2:28 PM
New town problems! From the Takoma Park council minutes, Dec. 2, 1901. The town borrowed a rope, but damaged it. They need to make their neighbor whole, and besides, the town really needs to own a rope and 60 ft of its length are still good. Expenditure of $5 to buy the rope, approved.
DC Water is studying ways of making the region's drinking water system more resilient, including better governance and protection for the Potomac, recycling water from Blue Plains, and building new emergency reservoirs. www.dcwater.com/about-dc-wat...
DC Water Unveils Pure Water DC: A Bold Vision to Strengthen Resilience and Secure a Second Source of Water | DC Water
www.dcwater.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
DC Water is studying ways of making the region's drinking water system more resilient, including better governance and protection for the Potomac, recycling water from Blue Plains, and building new emergency reservoirs. www.dcwater.com/about-dc-wat...
A neat way to indicate the scale on a map. From the 1:62,500 topographic map of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Surveyed 1885–1886 and 1895–1897, edition of July 1900, reprinted June 1914. Via NOAA Historical Map and Chart Collection.
November 19, 2025 at 10:11 PM
A neat way to indicate the scale on a map. From the 1:62,500 topographic map of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area. U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. Surveyed 1885–1886 and 1895–1897, edition of July 1900, reprinted June 1914. Via NOAA Historical Map and Chart Collection.
I think that having an "entrepreneurial mindset" in international relations is called "hiring out as a mercenary."
There is some kind of proposal to change the entire American University curriculum to reduce the size of majors and generally make all undergrad degrees like a business school degree, but dumber and spackled with AI. More to be hashed out in a "90-day sprint."
November 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I think that having an "entrepreneurial mindset" in international relations is called "hiring out as a mercenary."
There is some kind of proposal to change the entire American University curriculum to reduce the size of majors and generally make all undergrad degrees like a business school degree, but dumber and spackled with AI. More to be hashed out in a "90-day sprint."
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
There is some kind of proposal to change the entire American University curriculum to reduce the size of majors and generally make all undergrad degrees like a business school degree, but dumber and spackled with AI. More to be hashed out in a "90-day sprint."
Yes, they were fighter aircraft, I think 6× F/A–18s, though I only caught a glimpse of twin tails and no other details. No, DC is not being attacked, it's the orange lunatic playing with his toys. Yes, this is dumb, I know.
November 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Yes, they were fighter aircraft, I think 6× F/A–18s, though I only caught a glimpse of twin tails and no other details. No, DC is not being attacked, it's the orange lunatic playing with his toys. Yes, this is dumb, I know.
Ah yes, another bike rack that was designed by someone who had never seen a bicycle before, just read descriptions of them written by small, innumerate children.
November 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Ah yes, another bike rack that was designed by someone who had never seen a bicycle before, just read descriptions of them written by small, innumerate children.
Euclidian Zoning, as in Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. zoning, is structured in a remarkably complicated way.
November 17, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Euclidian Zoning, as in Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co. zoning, is structured in a remarkably complicated way.
What is this.
You wake up. Clinton? 9/11? iTunes? Epstein? Your friend is pounding on the door of your walkup in Belltown. You missed your shift at Bauhaus Books and Soundgarden is on at 9.
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
What is this.
The line isn't wrong. Might be missing one adjective.
November 17, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The line isn't wrong. Might be missing one adjective.
Thinking about design education. It isn't about "portfolio schools" and "process schools" anymore, if it ever was. A design program's purpose falls along a scale—aiming to *prepare students for professional practice*, or working to *advance the state of practice*.
November 16, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Thinking about design education. It isn't about "portfolio schools" and "process schools" anymore, if it ever was. A design program's purpose falls along a scale—aiming to *prepare students for professional practice*, or working to *advance the state of practice*.
Learned that, in the 2000s, the Historic American Engineering Record worked with the US Maritime Administration to document some important ships within the US reserve fleets. www.loc.gov/item/tx1092/
November 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Learned that, in the 2000s, the Historic American Engineering Record worked with the US Maritime Administration to document some important ships within the US reserve fleets. www.loc.gov/item/tx1092/
Looks as if the Fenty for Mayor campaign is kicking off, over on Adams Mill Road.
November 14, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Looks as if the Fenty for Mayor campaign is kicking off, over on Adams Mill Road.
I'm struck that, more than most buildings, large modern theatres really are machines, machines for moving scenery and curtains around and throwing light on them. (This is a plan of the basement of the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago — it's mostly hydraulic lifts.)
November 14, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I'm struck that, more than most buildings, large modern theatres really are machines, machines for moving scenery and curtains around and throwing light on them. (This is a plan of the basement of the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago — it's mostly hydraulic lifts.)