Photos of yesterday, featuring regular people and regular places.
The White House Before Fences and Security
Can you even believe this photo. This dude is just sitting on what appears to be a low stone wall on the south side of the White House. This would be E St. today and if...
Negro Laborers at Alexandria Wharf
This photo was posted by the National Archives and labeled as “negro laborers, near coal wharf.” This beautiful old photo shows the faces of regular African-Americans in the 1860s, living and working around Alexandria. Photos like...
Look at 11th Street NW Back in the 1920s
Here’s a great old photo of Washington back in the 1920s. You’re looking down 11th St. NW from L St. Source: National Archives And here is what it looks like today on Google Street View. You...
Best Aerial Photo of Griffith Stadium in 1925
We’ve looked for a high resolution image of Griffith Stadium for quite some time. We finally dug one up at the National Archives. Check it out below. Source: National Archives Here’s another great one we found.
Photo of Willard Hotel Undergoing Major Renovation
This is an aerial image of the Willard Hotel undergoing major renovations in the 1980s. Source: Library of Congress
Tidal Basin Canoeing During World War II
During the dark early days of World War II, people in the city of Washington still found time to relax on weekends. This photo was taken on a Sunday in July 1942 by John Collier. In...
Machine Guns at the Lincoln Memorial
The day after Pearl Harbor this is what the Lincoln Memorial looked like. Reminds me a little of what downtown Washington looked like the day after 9/11.
Car Dealerships Prohibited From Selling During World War II
These photos show a cool old building on 14th St. in Logan Circle which still stands today. It used to be an automobile dealership and the photos below are from 1942 during World War II. In...
Before Sidwell Friends: The Nourse House
This lovely photo is captioned as the Charles Joseph Nourse House in Tennallytown (read about the name’s history). This is the main administrative house today and it’s known as Zartman House. It’s a beautiful old farm...
Wright Brothers Fly Over Fort Myer in 1909
We posted another piece about this event a while back. This is a much higher resolution image from the event at Fort Myer. Source: Library of Congress
Then and Now View of Lord Fairfax House in Alexandria
Here’s a great photo of the Lord Fairfax House at 607 Cameron Street in Alexandria. By the way, Lord Fairfax was the Baron of Cameron, hence the street name. Source: Library of Congress And here’s the...
Incredible Colorized 1927 Photo of Car
Two new colorized photos for today! Here’s an awesome one we dug up thanks to Pinterest. It’s an image originally from 1927. See if you can identify the buildings in the background to pinpoint the location....
Can You Identify This 1906 Building?
Whoa, how cool is this old colorized photo. You’re looking at a “horseless carriage” back in 1906. The passenger is Senator George P. Wetmore of Rhode Island. Can anyone identify the building in the background? Source:...
Union Station Taxis Before Uber
We love this old photo showing Union Station back in 1914. You’re looking at a familiar line of taxis waiting for passengers. Source: Library of Congress
Amazing 16th Street Mansion as a Christmas Present!
Here’s a great article opening. This was published on Saturday, December 24th, 1910 … Christmas Eve. The biggest and most expensive Christmas gift that will be given in Washington this year is the palatial home in...
1950 Horizon-to-Horizon Photo of Washington
This is a cool photo of Washington taken by the U.S. Air Force using a horizon to horizon camera. Check it out. Source: Library of Congress
Incredible Aerial Photo of 1922 Washington
You have to click on this photo to see the incredible details of the city from 1922. Wow, just amazing.
Photo of U.S. House of Representatives When Laws Were Once Passed
This photo shows the old United States House of Representatives in a time when laws were passed, senators would verbally spar on the floor, and spend the evening socializing over whiskey and cigars. The good old days.
