Ghosts of DC The lost and untold history of Washington

What a fascinating map of a rather undeveloped Mount Pleasant in 1907. You can also see across 16th St. into what is now better known as Columbia Heights. Read More »

This is a fascinating real estate section to study. Click on it for greater detail and check out the ads for homes in Mt. Pleasant, Cleveland Park and Columbia Heights. Read More »

Here’s an advertisement from the Washington Times that caught my eye. This was published on April 10th, 1920. This garage was located where DC USA is today. Related articles The Chastleton: Parlors With Apogees of Luxury (ghostsofdc.org) Columbia Heights Arcade Gets First Roof Garage in D.C. (ghostsofdc.org) The Kenesaw: Fine New Structure Goes Up in Mt. Pleasant (ghostsofdc.org) Different Styles ... Read More »

I came across a very sad article in the Washington Post the other day. This is from September 2nd, 1906 and given that a large number of GoDCers have demonstrated their interest in the macabre and tragic posts, I’ll share this with you. In the span of 12 months there were nine mysterious deaths in Columbia Heights, all within two ... Read More »

Here’s one of the best story tips we’ve received thus far. Thanks to GoDCer Jack in Poolesville who tipped us off to the Big Train’s nuptials being held in a regular apartment at 1498 Monroe St. NW, right on the border of Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights. The Big Train is probably my second favorite person to write about (after ... Read More »

Driving was still not the primary mode off transportation in the city with streetcars crisscrossing the city, but John Blick, head of the Arcade Market going up in Columbia Heights felt strongly enough about making as easy as possible to park as close to the Arcade as possible. Remember when we almost had a Whole Foods move in? … only ... Read More »

The street names don’t always make sense in Columbia Heights, nor do they truly conform to the grid system of Old City (ie, below Boundary Street – now Florida Avenue). Take a look at the map below. Things don’t look right. Kenesaw Ave. is now Irving St. Whitney Ave. is Park Rd. Howard is Newton and Sheridan is Monroe (Lydecker ... Read More »

You can’t walk past the Tivoli Theater in Columbia Heights and not admire it, imagining what the surrounding streets were like in the late 1920s. The arrival of Harry Crandall’s new theater was a big deal for the area and let’s not forget that just a couple of years earlier, his Knickerbocker Theatre was the site of the catastrophic roof ... Read More »

This is awesome. Maybe you’re going to hit up a few open houses today? Well, check this old advertisement out. This part is great, advertising your potential new neighbors in Columbia Heights: Elegant residences of Congressmen Prince, Gardner, Hermann, Hogg, Miller, Roberts and Hon. Wm. T. Harris, Commissioner West, Assessor Darneille, Justice Harlan, Mr. Droop, Mrs. John A. Logan, Judge ... Read More »

I’ll leave you with this last photo from 1926. This is a great way to end your Friday. This was taken in the old Columbia Heights Arcade. Vivian Marinelli is teaching these guys the Charleston … I suppose for dexterity? You can buy some of photos of this on Amazon. Enjoy your evening and stay out of trouble. If you’re ... Read More »

Michelle Obama isn’t the only first lady to set foot in Columbia Heights. Grace Coolidge took the drive up 14th St. to attend a benefit for the Girl Scouts at the Tivoli Theater. The Washington Post reported the event on October 31st, 1925. MRS. COOLIDGE will be the guest of honor of the children of Washington this morning at the ... Read More »

Before Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, we had Barkley, Morrow, Harrison, W. Whiting and H. Whiting Read More »

Here’s a good one from the Library of Congress archives. It’s a drawing of the proposed new Executive Mansion, to be built on Meridian Hill (where the park is today). It looks quite ostentatious for American tastes and, in my opinion, resembles Il Vittoriano in Piazza Venezia, Rome (look here … thanks Andrea, great photo blog!). The drive for a ... Read More »

This is a wild advertisement that I came across in The Evening Times (back then they’d publish the paper a couple times each day). Coke Dandruff Cure? Okay, my interest is piqued … what is that? Read More »

Evidently, horses racing through the streets of Columbia Heights was a dangerous thing at the turn of the century. This article I came across from July 9th, 1900 talks about a recent accident leading to new regulations. A skillful hand is required to guide a team of spirited horses, rushing madly through crowded streets in response to an alarm of ... Read More »