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.
The four bronze lions at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial took two decades to build. Sculptor Henry Shrady died just two weeks before the 1922 dedication — and the lions sparked a controversy over British symbols on an American monument.
Check out this rare photo of James Buchanan’s Inauguration at the East Front of the Capitol Building on March 4th, 1857. It’s a little blurry and not the highest resolution, but amazing nevertheless. Click on the top image and find out what you see.
Sometimes the story behind the story is almost as sensational as the original news. Learn the amazing tale of Bill O’Leary and how he captured the infamous photo of Marion Barry in handcuffs outside his home in southeast DC.
Griffith Stadium stood where Howard University Hospital is today. Full history: from the 1911 fire to Walter Johnson to the 1965 wrecking ball.
Read about the robbery of Frederick Douglass’ former home at Cedar Hill in Anacostia, Washington D.C. in 1905. Learn more about this historic event from The Washington Post and other sources.
Take a journey back in time with us as we explore the past with an 1892 map of the rural area around Tenley and a 1904 book about Columbia Heights. Learn more about the history of the area!
Flashback to August 14th, 1945 – Victory of Japan day and the final end of World War II. Read about the celebration that took place in front of the White House, in Lafayette Square, and the other regular happenings of the day.
This is a terrific old photo that we found on Flickr. It shows the Lincoln Memorial as viewed across the Memorial Bridge from Virginia. Take a look at this amazing photograph!
Take a look back in time to when Washington DC was a bustling hub of activity. Our apartment directory from 1907 lists homes for rent in the city. Check it out to discover more about living in DC at the time!
