Washington, DC History & Old Stories of DC

Ballston-MU station in Arlington, Virginia, photographed late at night.

Metro Magic: How Public Transit Sparked Ballston's Revival

Ballston Metro Station: The linchpin in Ballston's journey from a fading strip to a bustling urban center. Dive into its transformative tale.

A Fascinating Look Back at the Democratic Women's Club in 1968 and the Predictions of Dr. Anthony Wiener

We stumbled upon a fascinating article from The Washington Post from March 1968, written by Elizabeth Shelton. The headline was "Democratic Women Get Preview of Year 2000" and some of it was incredibly prescient. Read on to learn more about the predictions of Dr. Anthony Wiener of the Hudson Institute.

1876. Photographer: W.W. Core, Washington, D.C. Frederick Douglass is standing on the front lawn of his home on A Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Other family members are standing out on the front porch on both side of the houses.

Take a Glimpse Into History: Frederick Douglass's Home on Capitol Hill

Take a look into history with this grainy image of Frederick Douglass standing in front of his home on Capitol Hill at 320 A St. NE. The home still stands today and you can walk by it, looking almost the same. See it today on Google Street View.

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The Charles Joseph Nourse House: An 1827 Farm House in Tennallytown

A look at the Charles Joseph Nourse House, an 1827 farm house located in Tennallytown. Learn about the history of the house and view photos of the beautiful old home.

1903 map of area around today's World Bank

Gave the Room a Sneak Peek: 1903 Map of the Area Around Today's World Bank

Thanks for the great opportunity to speak at the World Bank today. Check out the 1903 map of the area around today's World Bank that I gave the room a sneak peek of and am posting for all others now!

Inside of lodging house and opium den in San Francisco, 1890s (Wikipedia)

Uncovering the Opium Den Scene in Washington DC in 1894

Discover the shocking reality of opium dens in Washington DC in 1894, as uncovered by The Washington Post. Learn more about the notorious 'Gypsy Joe' and 'Matinee Charley' who frequented the dens.

Why Is It Named LeDroit Park?

LeDroit Park was established as one of the first suburbs of Washington, D.C. It was named for a family member of the founders Amzi Barber.

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Third in a series of four panoramic photographs of Washington, D.C., from left to right (west to east) taken from a tower in the Smithsonian Institution Building. The Mall area is covered with trees. The streets on the left perpendicular to the Mall are 12th Street and 11th Street. The long building on the right is Center Market bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue, 7th and 9th Streets, N.W. Up and behind Center Market on the right, the large building is the Pension Bureau Building bounded by F and G Streets, N.W., between 4th and 5th Streets, designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs, completed in 1887, later occupied by many government agencies and now known as the National Building Museum

Is Washington the Most Beautiful City in the World?

Explore the beauty of Washington DC, the US capital, and why many people believe it is the most beautiful city in the world. Learn about the McMillan Plan, the unbuilt Grant Memorial, and Frederick Law Olmsted. Read the full article from 1907.

A Glimpse into the Past - Amazing Photos of the Capitol Building from the Library of Congress

Get a glimpse into the past with these amazing photos of the Capitol Building from the Library of Congress. Take a look at these stunning photos and feel the history!

Hickory Hill - the Kennedy estate on Chain Bridge Road

JFK's Opposition to Widening Chain Bridge Road in McLean, VA

Learn about JFK's opposition to widening Chain Bridge Road from McLean into the District. We also uncovered some interesting facts about the history of McLean, VA. Read more about this story here!

View of south and west elevations of Peirce Mill, to the left of Tilden Street NW as it rises to cross Rock Creek.

A Thanksgiving Look Back: Photos of Peirce Mill and Spring House in Rock Creek Park, DC Taken in 1910

This Thanksgiving, take a look back at historical photos of Peirce Mill and the Rock Creek Park spring house in 1910. Amazingly, the structures look almost exactly the same today!

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Three men with bicycles on bridge near Pierce Mill, Washington, D.C.

Exploring the Past: A Look at a Photo from the 1880s-1910s

Take a look back in time with this amazing photo from the 1880s-1910s. We can't quite tell the direction of this shot, but we think it's looking east toward Mt. Pleasant. Source: Library of Congress.

Two Curtiss JN-4H "Jenny" airmail planes parked at the temporary airmail field at Washington, DC’s Polo Field, a small strip of grassy land between the Tidal Basin and Potomac River.

A Look Back at the U.S. Postal Service Plane from 1918

Take a look back at the history of the U.S. Postal Service with this amazing photo of a plane from 1918. Learn more about this incredible piece of American history!

From the Baltimore Sun to the U.S. Census: Uncovering the Tragic Tale of Rudolph and Mary Scheitlin

Digging through old newspaper archives and the U.S. Census, uncover the tragic tale of Rudolph and Mary Scheitlin that was printed in The Baltimore Sun in 1905. Learn the story of their rocky marriage, her dalliances and the fateful night that ended in murder.

Exploring the Transformation of Columbia Heights Through Photos From 1918-1922

Explore the transformation of Columbia Heights through photos from 1918-1922. See how the northeast corner of 14th and Irving St. NW looks today compared to the past. Get a glimpse of the area with photos from the Library of Congress and Google Street View.

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