The 1900s opened with the Senate Park Commission’s plan to redesign the National Mall, launching one of the most ambitious urban transformations in American history. Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency brought energy and ambition to the capital, and the city’s grand Beaux-Arts institutions began rising across downtown. These posts cover Washington at the dawn of the American century.
Take a look back into history with this unique photo from 1908 of the United States House of Representatives. Learn about the laws passed, senators debating, and the socializing in the evening.
Take a journey through time with this fascinating post about the history of Tennallytown. From a 1903 map to a modern-day Google Map, you won’t want to miss this fascinating post.
Digging into the past of Washington, DC? Check out this comparison of an old 1903 Baist map of DC near the Capitol and a Google Map of the same area in 2017. See how much things have changed!
A photograph of 15th and F Streets NW in the early 1900s, showing horse carriages and a bicyclist sharing the street.
Take a look back in time with this cool old advertisement from 1904 for homes in Washington Heights. Compare it to what the same homes look like today using Google Street View!
Take a look at this great photo from 1908 showing what the area around the Jefferson Memorial and the Capitol Building looked like before the memorial was completed in 1943.
Mrs. Ghost, Ghost Baby and I spent a nice Saturday afternoon celebrating a birthday at a lovely home in the Palisades. We found an old 1909 map of the area. Check out the results and the source of the map in our blog post!
This 1904 map from the Library of Congress covers Washington, D.C. and the surrounding region in detail. It shows the city a year before the Height of Buildings Act was passed and decades before the highway system reshaped the area. Click through to zoom in.
Clarendon started as a rail-stop development along the Georgetown to Falls Church road, now Wilson Boulevard.
