Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Category Archives: Featured

Feed Subscription

Why Is It Named Ballston?

Ballston pedestrian bridge (Wikipedia)

Do you know why the county is named Arlington? How about Ballston? I have a soft spot for Ballston because that’s where I first lived when I arrived in the area well over a decade ago. And, in tribute to my first residence, I wanted to dig up and share some etymological history. John Ball and his brother Moses, cousins ... Read More »

Then and Now: Bury’s Drug Store to Uniontown Bar & Grill

Bury's drug store around 1919

Well, this was a hopefully step to revitalize Anacostia, but the most recent owner made a couple bad decisions. Here is the building as it looked around 1919 as Bury’s drug store. And below is the current Google Street View of what used to be Uniontown Bar and Grill. The beautiful old building might have life again, according to the ... Read More »

If Walls Could Talk: Mad Hatter

Mad Hatter DC

I had the pleasure of speaking to a great class at AU last week. One of the students asked if we had ever done a piece about Mad Hatter on Connecticut Ave. We haven’t yet, so this one is for you, Blaire. (By the way, Blaire told me her parents named her after the Blair House … and added an ... Read More »

The Winder Building After the Civil War

Winder Building in the 1870s

Here is a shot of the Winder Building, some time after the Civil War. It looks to be in quite a state of disrepair, and it’s amazing that this building is still standing and in use by the U.S. Trade Representative. Here is the building today on Google Street View … a little ugly, because it’s under construction. Read More »

Why Is It Named K Street?

1024px-DC_Street_Sign_-_K_Street_NW

Do you know why it’s called K Street? You may not know the history of K St., but we dug up some interesting archival footage of K St. from well over a hundred years ago. The answer might surprise you … and you will definitely want to share this with your GoDC friends.   Happy April Fools’ Day! Read More »

Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877

Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite administering the oath of office to Rutherford B. Hayes on a flag-draped inaugural stand on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol

Not exactly the most revered or most remembered president, poor Rutherford B. Hayes was zinged by our current president. We’d like to shine a little light on poor Rutherford, even if he didn’t think the telephone was a good invention (or did he?). Below is a series of photographs from his Inauguration in 1877.   Read More »

Beer or Whisky to Help Digest Oysters?

oysters are yummy with beer

Here’s an interesting article we dug up from the Washington Post. This was published on April 4th, 1892. An interesting experiment was made the other day by a Washington physician to determine the relative effect of whisky and lager beer upon the digestion of food in the human stomach. As oysters are regarded as self-digesting food, two fine specimens were ... Read More »

Pennsylvania Avenue in February 1913

February 1913. "Woman suffrage -- hikers arriving in Washington from New York." Today marks the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Over the next few days we'll post some more suffrage photos. Harris & Ewing glass negative.

I’m a little late to the game on this, but I had been meaning to share this after I saw it posted on Twitter by Michael Beschloss. The best part is zooming in on the photo. Check out this woman, staring right at the camera. Also, how about this mounted policeman getting a little handsy to move the crowd back ... Read More »

President Taft’s Snowy Inauguration in 1909

Taft & Roosevelt driving to Capitol, Mar. 4, 1909.

Complaining about our bizarre weather? Try having your Presidential Inauguration in crappy, snowy weather. That’s what happened to our most rotund president (and latest Nats racing president). Here is a photograph of him in the carriage with Teddy Roosevelt en route to the Capitol and his swearing in. And below are a few more photographs from that day, courtesy of ... Read More »

Three Ads for Hotel Harrington in 1914

Hotel Harrington in 1916

Hotel Harrington will have its 100th birthday next year in March. It’s one of the landmark D.C. buildings downtown that was spared the destruction of the redevelopment of the 1970s and 1980s. For a little twist on our “Three Things…” posts, we are going to feature three old advertisements from the hotel’s first year. But, before we dive into the ... Read More »

Scroll To Top