An incredible map of Washington well before the Civil War. Lovely details for you to study.

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: Library of Congress

This drawing is a plan of the U.S. Senate chamber for the Thirtieth Congress. Source: Duke University

What a fascinating old drawing from 1846. This is the proposed design for the Smithsonian Castle, Source: Smithsonian Archives

How about the 460 acres of land for sale along Rock Creek? This is the part of the park up near the Maryland border.

David Levy Yulee, of Florida, was not only one of the first senators from that state, but he was also the first Jewish senator.

Here is an interesting video that we found, showing a collection of really old photos of D.C.  

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 the George Washington House (still standing), also known as the Indian Queen Tavern. According to a Washington Post article […]

View from the White House in 1848, looking at the Capitol Building.

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” 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 old estate, formerly located at 23rd and S St. This was the home of poet Joel Barlow, who acquired […]

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.

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 Library of Congress archives.

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 War. The historic imagery and cinematography alone are reasons to see the film, yet, the true power of the film […]

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.

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 at 8th and E St. NW (now the Hotel Monaco). Post this to Facebook for your friends to check […]

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

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 Tyler just the year prior. It’s a great one to stare at and study. It appears to be taken […]

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 share these with you because they’re a good window into life in Washington in the middle of the 19th […]

What is the origin of Arlington County's name? The story dates back to an old plantation near today's National Airport.