The 1890s were gilded years for Washington, with grand new buildings rising across the capital and the city’s population surging. The Library of Congress opened in 1897, the streetcar network expanded rapidly, and the rowhouses and apartment buildings that define Northwest DC filled in block by block.
Learn the incredible story of Officer Sprinkle and how it led to the inspiration for our logo. Read the original biography from the 1908 Metropolitan Police Department’s official history book, plus the original photo that inspired it!
Step back in time to the 19th century Washington dance scene! Read this article to find out how people danced, find out who was there, and the all-important question: did they do the Harlem Shake? Learn the answer and more here!
Two tramps, traveling from Leesburg, VA to Baltimore, MD, made a bizarre discovery on the railroad tracks near College Park, MD: a newly-born white infant. Read the full story here!
An interesting experiment was conducted by a Washington physician to determine the relative effect of whisky and lager beer on the digestion of food in the human stomach. Read this article to find out the outcome and try it for yourself at Pearl Dive or Hank’s!
Take a look back in time to a sight you’re unlikely to see today: kids riding a goat cart on the South Lawn. Major Russell Harrison and his children provide a glimpse of quaint times gone by.
Take a look back in time to the early 1900s with this photo of a policeman standing guard at the entrance to the White House, taken by Frances Benjamin Johnston.
An incredible look back through time – take a glimpse of the past with this old photograph of the Cairo Building from the 1890s. Discover the history of this incredible structure.
Take a look at the transformation of Washington Manual Training High School to the Asbury Dwellings Apartment Building in this post. See the 1895 perspective sketch of the school and the current Google Street View of the corner today.
Take a journey back in time with this 1890 map of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad route from Washington to Rockville. Explore the history of this iconic railroad and its impact on the region.
