How Bison on the Mall Became the National Zoo
William Hornaday penned live bison behind the Smithsonian Castle in 1886 to save the species. The Mall menagerie became the National Zoo by 1889.
Featured
Posts the Ghosts of DC editors hand-pick from the archive. The strange, the vivid, and the ones worth pulling back to the front page after a few years buried.
140 Years of Fighting Over Memorial Bridge
In 1931, gold-topped columns were killed for being too tall for airplanes. Now a 250-foot arch is proposed at the same spot. The full history since 1886.
Fedlandia Emerges from L’Enfant Plaza: From Southwest DC Neighborhood to the Future
Before L’Enfant Plaza’s Brutalist towers, Southwest DC was a thriving neighborhood. We dug into the Evening Star archives to trace the full story, from the 1954 demolition to the Fedlandia proposals reshaping the area today.
The Last NFL Team to Integrate Was the Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins were the last NFL team to integrate. Owner George P. Marshall ran a southern-focused media empire.
1877 View of the Washington Monument Under Construction as Seen from the Smithsonian
See what the Washington Monument looked like in 1877, as seen from the Tower of the Smithsonian (now the Smithsonian Castle). This stunning view shows the Monument under construction, a testament to the resilience of the nation.
Exploring Washington Before the Retrocession of the Western Portion to Virginia
A look at Washington before its retrocession of the western portion to Virginia. Includes a 1835 map of Washington, Georgetown, Alexandria, and two counties
Uncovering the History of the Golden Garter Sign in Washington, DC
Join us as we uncover the history of the iconic Golden Garter sign in Washington, DC. We take a look at the past of 639 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from Roaring Twenties East to Remington’s
J.P. Morgan Visiting Washington in 1912: Walking in Front of the Capitol Building
This is an old photo of J.P. Morgan walking in front of the Capitol Building in 1912. He was in town to testify before the Pujo Committee
A Rare Look at Riggs Bank and the Department of Justice in Washington, DC
Take a look at this rare photograph of Riggs Bank and the Department of Justice in Washington, DC taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston. See the full image at the Library of Congress website.