# DC Dopers: cool opportunity this Sat. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072 "2011-10-28T14:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/1 "2011-10-28T14:04:24Z")
Just wanted to let anyone in the DC area know that the McMillian sand filtration site is open to the public this Saturday from 11-3. I’ve always wanted to walk around in there. Here’s the link: > **[The 5pm Post – Tour the Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site Saturday - PoPville](https://www.popville.com/2011/10/the-5pm-post-tour-the-mcmillan-sand-filtration-site-saturday/)** > > Photo by PoPville flickr user Scenic Artisan From an email: "Friends of McMillan Park will host a tour of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site on Saturday October 29th from 11-3. The event is free and open to the public. This is a great opportunity to... ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/2 "2011-10-28T14:54:58Z")
That does look very cool. If I can talk my wife into it we will be having a look. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@AnnaLucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLucretia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/3 "2011-10-28T14:59:20Z")
That’s funny - my husband and I were already planning on going. We’ll see you there, I guess! We’ve always wondered what it’s like…should be really cool. Anna ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/4 "2011-10-28T15:02:04Z")
I’ve never heard of this - but guessing from one photo, is that the weird area along North Capitol Street (on the left / west as you’re heading northbound)? If so, I’ve always wondered what that was! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/5 "2011-10-28T15:03:23Z")
Answering my own question: [yes it is!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMillan_Sand_Filtration_Site) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/6 "2011-10-28T15:08:39Z")
Yeah, I’ve always wanted to go in there too. At one point the DC government had the opportunity to buyit from the federal government for $1, but didn’t (shocking that the otherwise efficient Berry administration dropped the ball on this). There has been talk about turning the catacombs into shopping with some parkland abover ground. I guess there is going to be some info on Sat. on plans. It will either be awesome or suck, with no in between. It’s kind of near my house so I have a vested interest. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/7 "2011-10-28T15:14:43Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > …At one point the DC government had the opportunity to buyit from the federal government for $1, but didn’t (shocking that the otherwise efficient Berry administration dropped the ball on this). … The Wikipedia article says that it _was_ purchased from the Feds in 1987, is the article not correct? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/8 "2011-10-28T16:34:27Z")
I believe that they missed the original opportunity to purchase for $1, but then later obtained it on less favorable terms for the city. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/9 "2011-10-28T16:43:15Z")
Man, I’d love to go but tomorrow is supposed to be cold and rainy and generally yucky. Guess I’ll just have to wait till next time. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/10 "2011-10-28T18:39:03Z")
If anyone is there are sees a goofy guy in glasses walking a black chow, that would be me. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/11 "2011-10-28T19:09:29Z")
Damnit! I have something I can’t get out of from 10-1:00 which means I may have to miss it. I’ve always wanted to wander around there and take a look around. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/12 "2011-10-28T19:41:02Z")
Me too, especially since the development plans do not envision using any of the old catacombs and thus, they might not be around much longer. That underground area could make the coolest bar scene ever. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/13 "2011-10-28T20:49:16Z")
I’ve lived in northern Virginia my whole life and never even heard of the place. I might give it a go depending on how the weather is and if I can figure out exactly how to get there. Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/14 "2011-10-28T20:55:47Z")
> [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](#): > > I’ve lived in northern Virginia my whole life and never even heard of the place. I might give it a go depending on how the weather is and if I can figure out exactly how to get there. Any tips? Take 395 north until it dead-ends onto New York Avenue (watch for the places on 395 where you have to be in just the correct lane or be dumped onto the wrong road). Turn right onto New York Avenue. Shortly after that, there’s a “jug handle” to get onto Capitol Street northbound. It’s a mile or so on the left. [Google Street View](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=mcmillan+water+treatment+plant,+washington+dc&hl=en&ll=38.923511,-77.009107&spn=0.018764,0.045447&sll=38.750008,-77.164434&sspn=0.009806,0.022724&vpsrc=6&hq=mcmillan+water+treatment+plant,&hnear=Washington,+District+of+Columbia&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=38.923511,-77.009107&panoid=3onTYYUqIYS9yiOIf0tOQw&cbp=12,317,,0,10.96) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-dopers-cool-opportunity-this-sat/601072/15 "2011-10-28T21:04:12Z")
Thanks much, **Mama Zappa**. I’ll certainly give it some thought.