Explore a Proposed National Mall from the Early 1900s
Take a look at what a proposed National Mall could have looked like from the Capitol Building in the early 1900s. See photos and find out more about this fascinating idea.
Lost History
Stories about the neighborhoods, buildings, and places that once defined Washington, DC and have since disappeared.
Now this is an Incredible Photograph of 14th and F Street in 1903
Take a look at this incredible photograph of 14th and F Street in 1903, featuring the old Ebbitt House. Read three stories about the place, and check out the map for reference points. The legacy lives on in today’s incarnation of Old Ebbitt Grill.
Proposed Demolition of McLean Gardens; Replaced by Embassy Complex
McLean Gardens in Cleveland Park was almost razed and replaced by a complex of foreign embassies.
Dead Man’s Hollow: A Dark History of Rosslyn and Arlington
Discover the dark history of Rosslyn and Arlington, VA, in the late 19th & early 20th century, including the notorious Dead Man’s Hollow. Learn about infamous murders, robberies and more in this blog post from Ghosts of DC.
Original Subway Planned for Downtown D.C. in 1912
Washington DC almost has a subway started in 1912, well before WMATA and Metro opened in 1976. Learn about what almost was built in the District.
Washington’s Lost Neighborhoods: Buzzard’s Roost, Ryder’s Castle, and Zig-Zag Alley
The squalid alley neighborhoods of late 19th-century Washington had names like Buzzard’s Roost, Ryder’s Castle, and Zig-Zag Alley.
Kennedy’s Lost 1964 Plan to Remake Pennsylvania Avenue
In 1964, Nathaniel Owings and a council appointed by JFK unveiled a radical plan to tunnel E Street, brick Pennsylvania Avenue, and build a National Square.
A Glimpse of K St. Over Rock Creek Park in 1907
Take a look at this 1907 view of K St. bridge over Rock Creek Park. See the bucolic and rural atmosphere from this incredible photo from Library of Congress.
Mayor Marion Barry’s Proposal to Rename a Portion of Mass. Ave. After Nelson Mandela in 1985
In 1985, Mayor Marion Barry proposed renaming a portion of Massachusetts Avenue in front of the South African Embassy after anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. Read the interesting story from The Baltimore Sun from July 3rd, 1985.