1840s

1847 Map of Washington

An incredible map of Washington well before the Civil War. Lovely details for you to study.
General Post Office from the corner of 8th Street and E Street, NW, Washington, D.C., the shop of Elija Dyer, merchant tailor, on the left

Rare Old 1846 Photo of Old Post Office

This is an amazing old photo of the General Post Office, which still stands in Gallery Place today. Check out the beautiful image below, which is from 1846. The building is now the Washington Monaco Hotel. Source:...
Proposed design for Smithsonian Institution Building by John Notman, north front elevation. It is a Gothic design with three stories, a central tower/cupola, crenellated embattlements, and symmetrical wings. The design was submitted for the competition sponsored by the Building Committee of the Board of Regents, December 23, 1846

Unbuilt 1846 Proposed Design for Smithsonian Castle

What a fascinating old drawing from 1846. This is the proposed design for the Smithsonian Castle, Source: Smithsonian Archives
Baltimore Sun - November 12th, 1845

For Sale: 460 Acres of Land on Rock Creek

Here is an old classified advertisement from The Baltimore Sun, printed on November 12th, 1845. In the ad, you’ll see some interesting property for sale, namely a large plot of land on the Rockville and Washington...
David L. Yulee (U.S. National Archives)

First Jewish Senator Supported Florida’s Secession

We came across some interesting history while digging through the rabbit hole that is Wikipedia. David Levy Yulee, of Florida, was not only one of the first senators from that state, but he was also the...

Video of Really Old Photographs of Washington

Here is an interesting video that we found, showing a collection of really old photos of D.C.  
Palo Alto Hotel and Saloon - September 19th, 1899

Birth of the Cocktail at the Palo Alto Hotel?

Source: DC Public Library Above is a great photo that we dug up on Flickr. The saloon above is the famous old Palo Alto Tavern, formerly located in Bladensburg, Maryland. It was across the street from...
Washington, from the presidents house: vue de Washington, prise de la maison du president / Washington vom hause des prasidenten gesehn

1848 View From the President’s House

This is a great print from 1848, showing the view looking south and west from the White House. Source: Library of Congress Update: Oops, the comment below is correct. This is east, not west. I should...
Chain Bridge at the end of the Civil War (Library of Congress)

Why Is It Called Chain Bridge?

In 1872, Congress appropriated $100,000 for a bridge made of iron. Construction lasted until 1874, when it was rechristened "Chain Bridge" without chains.
Kalorama estate after the fire in 1865 (Library of Congress)

A Kalorama “Pic-Nic” With Wild, Romantic Scenery

“Kalorama” is a Greek word meaning “fine view.” It’s also the name given to one of the finest neighborhoods in Washington. Here is a quick “Why is it Named…?” The neighborhood takes its name from an...
Sam Houston

Who Was the First Senator From Texas?

The United States annexed Texas in 1845 and Sam Houston was elected with Thomas Jefferson Rusk to become the Longhorn State’s first two Senators. The former President of the Republic of Texas, and one of only...
Drawing shows stables in the foreground and view of the city of Washington from southeast with the United States Capitol on the right, the White House in center background, and the Smithsonian castle and Washington Monument on the left.

View of Washington in the 1840s

Here is a painting of Washington from the late 1840s or 1850s, done by Augustus Köllner. The view is from an angle south of the Capitol, looking northwest. We just came across this watercolor while digging through the...
Lincoln movie poster

Abraham Lincoln and The Black Code of the District of Columbia

I recently saw “Lincoln” with Mrs. Ghosts and was blown away by the history and power of the film. A number of visually stunning scenes depicted life in Washington during the waning years of the Civil...
Silver Spring, MD

Silver Spring: History of the Name and Neighborhood

Why is it named Silver Spring? Francis Preston Blair (i.e., Blair House near the White House) came across a mica-flecked spring in Acorn Park.
General Post Office from the corner of 8th Street and E Street, NW, Washington, D.C., the shop of Elija Dyer, merchant tailor, on the left

One of the Oldest Photos on D.C. (1846)

Following up on our Postal Service theme from earlier today, here’s a great afternoon photo for you to stare at for a bit. It’s a daguerreotype taken by John Plumbe in 1846 featuring the post office...
1846 photo of the Capitol Building

Amazing 1846 Photo of the Capitol Building

Here is an amazing photograph (or daguerreotype) by John Plumbe taken in 1846. It shows the east front of the Capitol Building, noticeably different than it looks today. Source: Library of Congress
White House daguerreotype by John Plumbe, Jr. in 1846 (Library of Congress)

Earliest Photograph of the White House

This is an amazing old photograph of the White House taken by John Plumbe, Jr. in 1846. The 11th President of the United States , James K. Polk, was the building’s occupant, having succeeded President John...
Picture of Washington (1840)

Making Sense of D.C. Taxes in 1840

I’m reading a very interesting book about Washington published in 1840 titled “A Picture of Washington.” I just got to the part where it starts talking about the taxes in the city … I have to...
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