1860s Archives - Ghosts of DC

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The White House Before Fences and Security

Can you even believe this photo. This dude is just sitting on what appears to be a low stone wall on the south side of the White House. This would be E St. today and if you even came close

Negro laborers at Alexandria, near coal wharf

Negro Laborers at Alexandria Wharf

This photo was posted by the National Archives and labeled as “negro laborers, near coal wharf.” This beautiful old photo shows the faces of regular African-Americans in the 1860s, living and working around Alexandria. Photos like this really make you

May 1865. "Another artillery unit passing on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Treasury." Wet plate glass negative by Mathew Brady.

See the End of the Civil War in D.C.

This stunning old photo shows the city of Washington in May of 1865.

Stunning 1861 Photo of Chain Bridge

We wrote a great post about Chain Bridge a while back. That shared a few images of it, but we recently came across this gem. Click on it for more details. Source: Library of Congress

The Horror of an Alexandria Slave Pen

The sad truth is that slave pens existed in and around all of Washington. This photo shows one of those in Alexandria during the 1860s. We dug these up at the Library of Congress. Source: Library of Congress

Alexandria, Va. Steam frigate Pensacola. Photographs of the Federal Navy, and seaborne expeditions against the Atlantic Coast of the Confederacy -- the Federal Navy, 1861-1865.

Civil War Steam Frigate Near Alexandria

These old Civil War photos of Alexandria are amazing. This one shows the steam frigate Pensacola in 1861, the beginning of the war. Click on it for some incredible details. Source: Library of Congress We also came across some amazing

View on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.[Soldiers, civilians and children stand in front of a large brick corner building.]

Regular Life on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1865

This photo is a great moment in time, showing life on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1865, right at the end of the Civil War. Source: New York Public Library

Where Is This on F St. in 1865?

This wonderful old image from the 1860s shows F St. near the end of the Civil War. The details are quite incredible when you click on the photo. I’m a little confused as to where this is exactly. The building

The Treasury Building in 1860, Before the Civil War

Do you recognize the Treasury Building? This photo shows it back in 1860, before the Civil War. Source: Library of Congress

Old State Department Building, corner 15 Street and Pennsylvania Avenue - photo taken during the Civil War

Photo of the State Department During the Civil War

We posted a great old photo of the old State Department Building earlier. Here’s another, similar angle photo of the building, but much clearer. Click on it for some amazing details. Does anyone know why there are a large number