How the Washington Monument’s Capstone Was Placed in 1884
On December 6, 1884, the aluminum capstone of the Washington Monument was placed at the top of the obelisk. Here is the story of how it got there.
1880s
Victorian Washington was booming in the 1880s. The decade brought the dedication of the Washington Monument (finally finished in 1884), the consolidation of Georgetown into DC, and a wave of grand Romanesque architecture that still defines many of the city’s neighborhoods. These posts explore Washington at its Victorian peak.
Hand-Drawn Map of Washington, DC Centered on Scott Circle
A hand-drawn map of Washington, DC centered on Scott Circle, with Dupont Circle visible at the top right.
Unbelievable! Check Out This Highly Detailed Map of Washington Streetcars from 1880
Check out this highly detailed map of Washington streetcars from 1880. Get a glimpse of history and explore the past
DC Had Its Own Harlem: The Neighborhood West of Georgetown
Discover the history of the neighborhood of Harlem in Washington, DC, located west of Georgetown. Learn how this area was developed in the early 1880s and why it was named after the town in the Netherlands.
Proposal for Rock Creek Park in Washington DC, 1886
In 1886, a proposal for Rock Creek Park in Washington DC was made. Read and explore the idea, its history and how the land was eventually used for something more important than a park: Arlington National Cemetery.
Exploring the Washington Navy Yard Through an Old Plan From 1881
Discover the Washington Navy Yard through an old plan from June 1st, 1881. See the position and dimensions of all the buildings in this plan from the Library of Congress.
The Old Ebbitt House in 1880: When the District Had 178 Phone Lines
Take a look back in time to 1880 and the Old Ebbitt House in D.C.! Back then, the District had 178 phone lines. See the photograph from the Library of Congress.
The Ulysses Grant Memorial Bridge That Was Never Built
Congress introduced a bill in 1887 to build a medieval granite fortress bridge across the Potomac in honor of Ulysses S. Grant. Here is what it would have looked like.
Rare Photographs of the U.S. Naval Medical Museum from 1879
Reader and history buff Mike sent over rare photographs of the U.S. Navy Medical Museum dating to 1879.