Historical maps of Washington, DC, from L’Enfant’s plan to twentieth-century plats. Watch the city draw itself in, block by block.
In 1918, the brand-new U.S. Army Air Service flew over central Washington with a camera bolted to the airplane and stitched the prints into a single photomosaic of the city. It is a portrait of a D.C. that no longer exists: no Federal Triangle, no Jefferson Memorial, a Lincoln Memorial still mid-construction.
A series of 1880 maps showing property values, pavement conditions, public schools, railroads, and street sweeping schedules across Washington, D.C.
Take a look at what could have been! Howard University proposed extending Vermont Ave. from Florida Ave. to Georgia Ave. back in 1919. See the maps, read the letter of rejection, and check out the intersection today on Google Maps.
The first overland long-distance telegraph line in the United States was between Baltimore and Washington in 1843. This map shows all telegraph lines in Washington in 1880.
Explore the Atlas District of Washington, DC in 1921 with this map of Officer Sprinkle’s neighborhood. Requested by GoDCer Vaughn. Enjoy!
These are old maps of Washington in 1874. They’re amazingly detailed and are a “manual for business men.”
This fascinating old map from 1963 shows all the public housing developments in Washington, DC.
Take a look at an old map of Sixteenth Street Heights and explore the area today. See the notable buildings like the old French Embassy, The White House, and Henderson Castle. Plus, learn why it’s called Sixteenth Street Heights and why there’s also 14th Street Heights.
This 1915 map shows the segregated schools of Washington. Integration wouldn’t begin until 1954.
