The Willard Brother Who Built the Ebbitt House
Three Willard brothers ran the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. The fourth, Caleb, ran a hotel just as big a block away. He just had the misfortune of calling it the Ebbitt House.
1860s
Washington spent most of the 1860s as a city at war. The Capitol dome was still under construction when the fighting started, and the city filled with soldiers, contraband camps, and field hospitals. Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre in April 1865. These are 139 stories from the decade that defined the District.
Boston Corbett: Lincoln’s Avenger in Washington
On May 17, 1865, Sergeant Boston Corbett took the stand at the Washington Arsenal and walked the military commission through the night he shot John Wilkes Booth in a Virginia barn. This is the DC chapter of his strange life.
The Smithsonian Castle, Photographed in 1867
A photograph of the Smithsonian Castle taken around 1867, just two years after the Civil War ended. The red sandstone building was barely a decade old.
A Rare Look at Union Soldiers Guarding the Potomac River in 1861
Take a rare look at Union soldiers guarding the Potomac River in Washington, DC in 1861. Georgetown University is visible in the background. Photo by George Barnard.
A Pivotal Moment in History: Mathew Brady’s Stunning Photo of Washington, D.C. in 1865
Discover a pivotal moment in history with Mathew Brady’s stunning photo of Washington, D.C. in 1865, capturing the end of the Civil War era.
Civil War Reaches Tennallytown
The Civil War reached the outer edges of Washington in 1864. It was so close that President Lincoln rode near the front lines of Fort Stevens and came under fire.
Absolute Shock: A Photo of the South Lawn of the White House During the Civil War
Take a look at this unbelievable photo of the South Lawn of the White House during the Civil War. Unbelievably, there are people sitting on what appears to be a low stone wall on the south side of the White House. Take a look at this incredible photo from the National Archives.
Uncovering the Faces of Regular African-Americans in the 1860s with a Photo from the National Archives
Uncovering the faces of regular African-Americans in the 1860s, this beautiful old photo from the National Archives captures the lives and work of those living around Alexandria. Learn more about these individuals and check out photos of young boys working in the area.
A Rare Glimpse of Chain Bridge in 1861
We recently came across a rare picture of Chain Bridge in 1861. Click through to read more and see this historic image from the Library of Congress.