Washington D.C.’s historic Whitelaw Hotel hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway during the segregation era when it opened in 1919 as a luxurious refuge for black travelers. Built by black visionaries like John W. Lewis and Isaiah T. Hatton, the Whitelaw's storied rise, fall, and rebirth embodies the struggles and achievements of African Americans in the capital.
In the early 1900s, Presidents Taft and Wilson tried reversing the 1846 retrocession of Alexandria, VA to restore DC's original borders. But despite political momentum, Virginian resistance doomed efforts to reclaim the valuable land.
Take a look back at Logan Circle in the 1920s with this photo from the Library of Congress. Learn more about the history of Logan Circle with Ghosts of DC.
This blog post examines a photograph of Washington, D.C. taken from a building near the Lotus Club in 1939. The image depicts a street scene showing streetcars crossing at 14th Street and New York Avenue, providing a unique aerial perspective of the city during that era. The post reflects on the historical significance of the photograph, serving as a time capsule of the past and a reminder of the rich history of our nation's capital.
Take a look at an old building on 14th St. in Logan Circle, DC in 1942 and today. The US government froze sales of all new automobiles in January 1942, and this building was an automobile dealership at the time. See the photos and find out what's happening on the block today.
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!
Take a look at this photograph of Washington, D.C. from the 1920s and see if you can recognize it. Click for more details and leave your thoughts in the comments!
In January 1839, The Baltimore Sun discussed the possibility of retroceding Georgetown to Maryland. Read about it here, plus check out an 1835 map of Washington D.C. to get the full picture.
Explore Washington, D.C. in 1904 with this amazing map from the Library of Congress. Click on it to zoom in and see the incredible amount of detail. Don't miss this chance to explore the city's past!
Revisit a street corner in Washington, DC from 1942 to now with this blog post and Google Street View. See how the building across the street has changed from 1942 to now.
