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DC’s Dupont Circle Fountain wasn’t always the centerpiece of the bustling neighborhood

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What do alcohol, titans of industry and a little-known admiral have in common?

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to Dupont Circle to learn the obscure backstory behind a monument at its center.

In the warmer months, the Dupont Circle Fountain is the centerpiece of this bustling D.C. neighborhood.

But did you know there was a time when there was an entirely different monument in the exact spot where it now stands?

To uncover this hidden tale, Matt and a familiar Park Ranger went all the way back to the 1880s, to learn about the late Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont — and his “drunken” statue that predated the fountain many know and love today. Check out their video exploration!

Hear “Matt About Town” first every Tuesday and Thursday on 103.5 FM! 

If you have a story idea you’d like Matt to cover, email him, or chat with him on Instagram and TikTok.

Check out all “Matt About Town” episodes here!

Meet two of the National Zoo’s newest babies — the sloth bears!

They’re two of the National Zoo’s newest fur babies. In Thursday's episode of "Matt About Town," WTOP's Matt Kaufax got a sneak peek to say hello to them before anybody else. You can check out and meet two of the more unique creatures now on display at the zoo: the sloth bear cubs.
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