July 4, 1926: How Washington Celebrated America’s 150th Birthday
A cast of 1,000 on the Capitol steps, 50,000 at the Monument fireworks, and a plea for DC voting rights. How Washington celebrated America’s 150th birthday in 1926.
Capitol Building
The United States Capitol has stood at the center of Washington since the 1790s, and GoDC has spent years digging into its history. These posts cover everything from the Capitol’s construction and the British burning of 1814 to the dome’s completion during the Civil War and the debates, ceremonies, and controversies that have played out inside ever since.
“Czar Reed”: The Speaker Who Broke the Filibuster
Thomas Brackett Reed rewrote the rules of Congress, crushed the filibuster, and walked away from power on principle. He died at the Arlington Hotel while a party raged downstairs.
Blood on the Marble: The Taulbee-Kincaid Capitol Shooting
On February 28, 1890, former Kentucky Congressman William Taulbee was shot on the Capitol’s marble staircase by a journalist.
A Foreigner’s Impressions of Washington in 1799
Cows in the streets, a well overflowing near the White House, and woods where the Capitol stands. John Davis saw Washington in 1799 before it was a capital.
1952 Washington UFO Sightings: Jets Scrambled Over the Capitol
In July 1952, mystery lights appeared in the night sky over Washington, including over the Capitol. Radar operators saw blips. Pilots saw lights too.
The 1877 Drawing of Proposed Capitol Modifications
In 1877 a 23-year-old draftsman named Richard Siebert filed a sweeping redesign of the U.S. Capitol with the Copyright Office. Then he vanished.
A Look Back in Time: These Cool Old Photos Show DC in 1922 from the Air
Take a look back in time with these cool old photos of Washington, D.C. in 1922. See the city from the air in this fascinating collection of photos!
A Look at the Capitol Building from the 1960s – A Scene You’ll Never See Again
Take a look at this rare photo of the Capitol Building from the 1960s. See the Capitol Dome under construction and a lot of cars parked out in front of it – something you’ll never see again!
The U.S. Capitol During the Civil War
A rare photograph captures the Capitol’s cast-iron dome still half-built during the early days of the Civil War, scaffolding climbing into the sky.