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.
Architecture
Washington’s built environment is the product of grand ambitions, fierce debates, and brilliant (and sometimes terrible) ideas across more than two centuries. These posts dig into the buildings, architects, and design decisions that shaped the city we know today.
Washington’s Suburbs in 1961: How the City Spilled Into Maryland and Virginia
A 1961 Washington Post map plots every real estate subdivision ringing the city, capturing the postwar suburban explosion in Maryland and Virginia.
The Architects the Library of Congress Forgot
John Smithmeyer and Paul Pelz won the design competition in 1873. They spent 13 years redesigning it. Then Congress fired them. Here’s what happened next.
The Story of Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s Mansion
Oleg Deripaska’s mansion at 2501 30th NW replaced a 30-room Tudor Herbert Haft razed in 1985 to build his ‘mini-Versailles.’
The Old Executive Office Building: History and an Early Stereographic Photo
A stereographic photograph of the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, DC, with historical context from architectural historian John DeFerrari.
Western High School in 1919
Back then it was called Western High School. Washington had that school north of Georgetown, Eastern High School near Capitol Hill and Central High School just north of U St.
A Look Back at the History of 910 15th St. NW in McPherson Square
Take a look back at the history of 910 15th St. NW in McPherson Square! Learn about the evolution of this DC landmark and how it’s been transformed into the Camden Parc Apartments.
Harry Wardman’s Woodley Park Homes
Harry Wardman was a prolific developer of Northwest in the 1920s. This ad from The Evening Star shows some of his homes on Cathedral Ave. in Woodley Park.
A Historical Look at the Old Post Office Pavilion, Now the Waldorf Astoria
Take a look at the Old Post Office Pavilion, now the Waldorf Astoria hotel on Pennsylvania Ave. Learn how the building’s ownership and purpose have changed over the years.