Washington sat at the center of the Civil War, serving as the Union capital with Confederate territory just across the river. These posts cover the forts, hospitals, battles, figures, and everyday life that defined the city during the war years.
Built in 1856 and demolished in 1964, Armory Square Hospital stood for more than a century on Independence Ave and 7th Sts. SW. Take a look inside Ward K of the hospital in 1865 with this photo and map of the hospital’s location.
Explore a Civil War-era map of Fairfax County, Virginia, copied by J. Paul Hoffmann and approved by S. Howell Brown in 1864. Discovered at the Library of Congress.
Discover the remarkable story of Col. Ulric Dahlgren, wounded in the Civil War and commemorated with a plaque at the Navy Yard. Learn how his leg ended up in a parking garage and the history of the building since then.
Take a look back in time with this detailed photograph of the Union encampment at Centreville during the winter of 1861-1862. Click on the photograph for more information and to view the original source.
On April 15, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. On the same day, The Evening Star newspaper was published, featuring a “Special Notice” that is as interesting as anything that could be published today. Take a look at the newspaper, the day after the assassination.
Discover a cool print found on the Library of Congress website. Check it out and explore what it has to offer
Take a look back in history with this old map that shows Jubal Early’s Rebel attack on Washington. See the plan of the attack and learn more about this important moment in history.
The 1858 Alexandria Custom House held the federal flag at Prince and St. Asaph through the Civil War occupation and was demolished in 1930. Ammi B. Young designed it.
This photograph shows the Confederate ironclad CSS Stonewall anchored in Washington, D.C. in 1865, with the Capitol dome visible between its masts. The war had just ended. How a Confederate warship ended up tied up in the capital is a story worth knowing.
