Here is a painting of Washington from the late 1840s or 1850s, done by Augustus Köllner. The view is from an angle south of the Capitol, looking northwest. We just came across this watercolor while digging through the Library of Congress archives. Read More »
GoDCer, and über cartophile, Matt has sent along something that we’re compelled to share with you … because GoDCers love maps! We posted an awesome 1851 map of D.C. a while ago, and it was one of our most popular posts ever. The good news is, thanks to Matt, you can now have that incredible map and hang it on your ... Read More »
It has been a really long time since we did a “Why is it Named…?” post, and since at least a quarter of GoDCers live in Bloomingdale (I totally made that number up), we are going to focus a quick history lesson on the ultra-hipster, fixed-gear bike and mustache epicenter of D.C. No, it is not named after the department store. ... Read More »
This is the first guest post by Roger. Check out his blog Forgotten Stories for some excellent lost history. Philemon T. Herbert was a crooked lawyer, a card shark, frequented brothels, and stood accused of attacking a political rival with a knife. In other words, he fit right in with the rough and tumble environment of California in the early 1850s, ... Read More »
This is a cool drawing that we found in the Library of Congress’ archives. It’s centered on the White House, showing the surrounding area around the 1850s (done in 1984). The bottom left side would be the Ellipse today and the top right is Lafayette Park. Related articles From a GoDCer: A Family Connection to a Tragic Suicide (ghostsofdc.org) ... Read More »
What an amazing old map of Washington, D.C. in 1851. I found this gem on the Library of Congress’ website. Click on it for a much larger version. Dig this map? Want to see more? Sign up for our updates and follow us on Facebook. Related articles Facts and Fictions of D.C.’s Gentrification (urbanplanningblog.com) Epicenter of Macabre Tragedy in 1906: ... Read More »
By 1854 the Washington Monument was about a third complete when the Washington National Monument Society ran out of funds and had to halt construction. John Carroll Brent called upon Americans to support the effort with a donation of funds and appealed to their patriotism with the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations. The leaflet below was distributed in an attempt ... Read More »
I came across this gem scanning through the Architect of the Capitol’s website. I had to share it with you tonight. Click on it for the higher resolution image. It’s pretty amazing to take a look at the details and the stores on the left, lining Pennsylvania Ave before the Civil War. Try and stay cool. It’s ridiculously hot outside. ... Read More »
Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington