Ghosts of DCThe lost and untold stories of Washington

Try an address, a neighborhood, a name or a year, like “14th and U” or “1968.”

Not sure where to start?

Peter Pan, the White House Dog Who Wore Flapper Galoshes in 1928

Peter Pan was a wire-haired terrier belonging to the personal secretary to President Coolidge. He arrived at the White House in February 1928 dressed in flapper galoshes. We are not making this up.

Posted 1 min read

What is better than a dog wearing galoshes? Ghost Dog doesn’t plan on getting these anytime soon. But, I think you can see why I had to post it. Oh, and it happens to be the pet dog of President Coolidge’s personal secretary.

Feb. 9, 1928. Washington, D.C. "Peter Pan, wire-haired terrier pet of the personal secretary to President Coolidge and Mrs. Edward T. Clark, arrived at the White House today attired in 'flapper galoshes'."
Feb. 9, 1928. Washington, D.C. “Peter Pan, wire-haired terrier pet of the personal secretary to President Coolidge and Mrs. Edward T. Clark, arrived at the White House today attired in ‘flapper galoshes’.” (Shorpy)
The Email

Lost Washington stories, in your inbox.

The newest story, plus a few from the archive.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

We use AI to help research, write and edit stories across our sites. Here’s how we use AI.Suggest a correction

Pass it on

Know someone who’d like this?

Send it to them.

Email it
President Calvin Coolidge stands at a platform addressing a crowd at the 1925 cornerstone ceremony, with a band in the foregroundRead nextDC JCC at 16th and Q: From Coolidge’s 1925 Cornerstone to TodayOn May 3, 1925, Calvin Coolidge laid the cornerstone of the DC JCC at 16th and Q. The building has been lost, nearly turned into a prison, and won back.Keep reading4 min read
On the Atlas

See where this happened.

White House

Open the map