Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington

What a sweet campaign button from 1864! We dug this up on the Library of Congress’ site. Read More »

What’s up with this invite? Is Abe trying to tip the balance in the favor of his male advisors? Bizarre … two to one ratio? Read More »

You may not know this, but Abraham Lincoln was a bit of a technophile. On June 18th, 1861, “Professor” Thaddeus Lowe ascended to a height of 500 feet above the National Mall, in front of where the National Air and Space Museum now stands. (Wikipedia says June 18th, but this plaque says June 18th). He sent a telegram from his ... Read More »

What an amazing photograph by Mathew Brady. Read More »

The one thing I have against the National Archives is that is takes up so much of my time … I get completely engrossed in the images they post online. Here’s a great one, the letter from Lincoln nominating Seward to be Secretary of State. Here’s a great photo of William Seward taken by Matthew Brady. Read More »

The assassination of President Lincoln is one of the most, if not the most, tragic event in the history of Washington. Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre in the evening of April 14th, 1865. A massive hunt for the conspirators ensued in the days following the assassination and the War Department, headed by Edwin Stanton, printed up and distributed the ... Read More »

The city and the nation was about to celebrate Lincoln’s 98th birthday when the Washington Times published a feature on how visitors seemed to have completely forgotten the fallen president. A generation had passed since Abe was gunned down in Ford’s Theatre by Booth, and the country’s memory of their leader appeared to be fading. LINCOLN is strangely forgotten by ... Read More »

This is a great find. I was digging through old newspapers in the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America archives and came across this from the Daily National Republican. It dates back to July 21st, 1864. Related articles Lincoln’s close call with electoral defeat (csmonitor.com) Ford’s Theater Opens $25 Million, 10-Story Building On Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday (dekerivers.wordpress.com) The District of Columbia 1862 ... Read More »

This title is worthy of a big #WTF. Posts like this are sadly some of the more popular ones. I don’t know if GoDCers are attracted to the macabre, but it sure seems that way. So here’s another one for “From the Crazy Vault.” This is a crazy story of a military officer who shoots his wife while she was asleep ... Read More »

Here is a nice photograph from 1922. You’re looking at the Washington Monument from within the Lincoln Memorial, which has just opened. The memorial has not yet been formally dedicated — a ceremony attended by Lincoln’s son. Thanks Shorpy! Read More »

April 10th, 1865 — Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered a day earlier at Appomattox Court House. The Civil War was over and the Union had been preserved. Workmen from the Washington Navy Yard, accompanied by a band, visited Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles to congratulate them and celebrate the Union ... Read More »

This is a very famous photo of President Lincoln from February 5th, 1865. The President would be assassinated a short two months later at Ford’s Theatre. I also found a colorized photo of the one taken by Alexander Gardner. Compare the two of them … the colorized one looks amazing, and kind of spooky. Check us out on Facebook or Twitter if you want ... Read More »

File this one away in the historic candids section. On May 30th, 1922 and at the advanced age of 78, Robert Todd Lincoln is seen arriving at the dedication of the memorial to his father Abraham Lincoln. While any son would be overshadowed by the accomplishments of a father like President Lincoln, Robert was far from lacking accomplishment. He was ... Read More »

Buy this book and then read it (I bought the Kindle version). It is an excellent window into life in Washington City in the days after the fall of Fort Sumter. It chronicles life in the District starting April 14th, 1861. Word had spread to Washington that the Union flag was lowered over Fort Sumter. Lincoln and his cabinet feel ... Read More »