Faces & Places of Yesterday

Photos of yesterday, featuring regular people and regular places.

600 block of Independence Ave. SW in 1941

Independence Avenue Before the FAA Headquarters

Take a look at the building below. This is the Federal Aviation Administration’s headquarters on Independence Ave. SW. It obviously didn’t always look like this. Now look below at what the block looked like in 1941,...
The White House during the Civil War

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, near coal wharf

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...
11th and L St. NW in the 1920s

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...
Griffith Stadium from the air in 1925

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.
Aerial view of the Willard Hotel during restoration, Washington, D.C.

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
Washington, D.C. Sunday along the Tidal Basin

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 gun sets up outside the Lincoln Memorial on December 8th, 1941

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.
Washington, D.C. Automobile store on 14th Street which has stock of frozen cars

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...
Nourse House in 1947

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 plane over Ft. Myer in Arlington - 1909

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
Lord Fairfax House

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...
Washington, D.C., circa 1927. Nature Magazine -- Walter Layman. (Colorized Photo).

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....
Washington, D.C., circa 1906. "Senator George P. Wetmore, Rhode Island."

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
Secretary MacVeagh's home on 16th Street NW

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.
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