Three Sisters (District of Columbia)
Encyclopedia
The Three Sisters, variously known as the Three Sisters Islands and the Three Sisters Island, are three rocky island
s in the Potomac River
in Washington, D.C.
, west of the Key Bridge
. They represent the farthest point navigable by larger boats.
nun
s drowned in the river, which spewed them back as the three islands.
Another legend tells of three Algonquian
sisters who were trying to escape a pursuing chieftain and tried to swim across the river; they drowned and were turned into the rocky islets by the Great Spirit. This legend
was crafted by Native Americans to warn children of the deceptively calm Potomac River currents.
Yet another legend says that three daughters of the local Native American Chief were marooned on the islands by their father after rejecting their suitors.
Thereafter the point where the islands appeared was cursed: no one would ever be allowed to cross at that point and anyone who tried would perish. A strange moaning is said to come from the Potomac River when the curse is about to claim another life.
. The highway and bridge were canceled due to community opposition in 1972.
neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 1925.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s in the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, west of the Key Bridge
Francis Scott Key Bridge (Washington)
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, more commonly known as the Key Bridge, is a six-lane reinforced concrete arch bridge conveying U.S. Route 29 traffic across the Potomac River between the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia and the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C...
. They represent the farthest point navigable by larger boats.
Legends
Various legends are associated with the Three Sisters. In one, three Roman CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s drowned in the river, which spewed them back as the three islands.
Another legend tells of three Algonquian
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
sisters who were trying to escape a pursuing chieftain and tried to swim across the river; they drowned and were turned into the rocky islets by the Great Spirit. This legend
was crafted by Native Americans to warn children of the deceptively calm Potomac River currents.
Yet another legend says that three daughters of the local Native American Chief were marooned on the islands by their father after rejecting their suitors.
Thereafter the point where the islands appeared was cursed: no one would ever be allowed to cross at that point and anyone who tried would perish. A strange moaning is said to come from the Potomac River when the curse is about to claim another life.
Three Sisters Bridge
The Three Sisters are probably best known as the site of the proposed Three Sisters Bridge, which would have carried Interstate 266 across the river between the District of Columbia and Arlington County, VirginiaArlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
. The highway and bridge were canceled due to community opposition in 1972.
In Popular Culture
The Islands are also integral to the plot of Breena Clarke's best-selling novel River, Cross My Heart, (ISBN 0-316-89998-4,) set in the GeorgetownGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 1925.