Ghosts of DC

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1800s

The federal government arrived in Washington in 1800, and the city spent the decade trying to catch up. The Capitol and White House were still under construction, the streets were unpaved, and diplomats complained constantly about the state of the place. These posts explore early Washington, still very much a work in progress.

18 stories
AI illustration of glassworkers inside an early 19th-century glasshouseThe Old Glass House: Washington’s 1807 Glass Factory on the PotomacFeb 12, 2024The Washington Directory - 1822Exploring the Washington Directory from 1822: James Monroe and Other Regular People Living in the CitySep 23, 2015George Calvert - Baron of BaltimoreWhy Is It Named Maryland?May 19, 2015

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The History of Mt. Pleasant: From Pleasant Plains to The RavenApr 2, 2015Why Is It Named Woodley Park?Mar 30, 2015View toward Navy YardA Glimpse at History: A Wonderful Old Photo of the Navy YardDec 3, 2014Territory of Columbia on an Early Map of MarylandMar 3, 2014Image shows a black-and-white engraving published in 1834 to portray Washington, D.C. and the west front of the U.S. Capitol grounds as they were in 1800. Includes the west end of the west grounds and Pennsylvania Avenue, with poplar trees planted in 1803.What DC Looked Like in 1800: “Small Miserable Huts”Feb 17, 2014Why Is the CIA Called Langley? The History Behind the NameOct 2, 2013
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