Published September 10, 2013

The 1861 View From The Capitol Roof: A Look North

Take a look at the 1861 view from the Capitol roof! This post looks at the sites visible from Washington, DC in 1861, including the ghostly, blurred waving American flag in the center. Source: Library of Congress.

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Not many of us get to see Washington, DC from the roof of the Capitol. None of us ever got to see the view in 1861, but here’s the next best thing.

Taken in 1861, this is looking north. The cursive at the bottom is pointing out the different sites you can see. From left to right they read: Douglas Hospital, Old Douglas House, Railway Station, The Washington (or Wilkes House), St. Aloysius, Government Printing Office, Glenwood Cemetery, Swampoodle, and Old Mill.