Most people think the Pentagon's famous five-sided shape represents military symbolism or strategic design. The real story is far more surprising: the world's most recognizable military building got its iconic shape because it had to fit around the property lines of an experimental farm in Arlington, Virginia. When architects had just one weekend in July 1941 to design the world's largest office building, they shaped it to match the boundaries created by old farm roads.
A deep dive into a 1923 newspaper reveals America struggled with familiar issues like racism, prohibition, and budget woes amid intense social change. Comparing eras shows our past holds lessons to guide us through modern tumult.
Did you know our greatest museum was funded by and named for an Englishman who never set foot in the United States? Read up on the origins of the Smithsonian and how it was born in our nation's capital.
Take a look at the Old Post Office Pavilion, now the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Pennsylvania Ave. Learn how the building's ownership and purpose have changed over the years.
Take a look into history with this grainy image of Frederick Douglass standing in front of his home on Capitol Hill at 320 A St. NE. The home still stands today and you can walk by it, looking almost the same. See it today on Google Street View.
Discover an alternate view of Meridian Hill in 1867 with our new blog post from Ghosts of DC. See what streets have changed and which have stayed the same. Click to explore the map!
What is today Cleveland Park was an area for well-off Washingtonians to build their summer cottages. It was far enough away from swampy hot downtown and elevated to provide some breezy relief.
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.
Working under commissioners that President Washington had appointed in 1790 in accordance with the Residence Act, Major Andrew Ellicott led a team that placed these markers in 1791 and 1792.
GoDCer Andy sent in a plethora of great material and one postcard in particular showed Rhode Island Ave in 1904. Uncover this piece of history and explore what Rhode Island Ave was like in 1904 with Ghosts of DC.
Take a look back in time to the 1910s and explore the ladies' waiting room at Union Station. See the sparsely decorated room and imagine what it was like for women to wait for their train 100 years ago.
Take a look at this 1907 view of K St. bridge over Rock Creek Park. See the bucolic and rural atmosphere from this incredible photo from Library of Congress.
