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.
Discovering the National Archives is a fascinating journey through history. Here’s a look at Abraham Lincoln’s nomination of William Seward to be Secretary of State in 1861, as well as a photo of Seward taken by Matthew Brady.
Take a look at this historic photograph of the Capitol Building from the Civil War, taken by the acclaimed photographer Mathew Brady. Learn about the Civil War and see the photo here.
GWU started as a Baptist college on Meridian Hill in 1821. Here’s the story of how it got its name — a $500,000 deal, a broken promise, and a dead president’s bequest that Congress ignored.
Take a look at this Civil War map of D.C. and its surroundings. Click on it for greater detail and you’ll be able to see all the fortifications around the city, including Fort Totten and Fort Lincoln.
Digging through Google Books, I found “The Black Code of the District of Columbia in Force September 1st, 1848” – a 122-page book of laws governing all aspects of life and behavior for African-Americans in Washington, D.C. in the 1800’s. Read on to learn about the shocking provisions in this book.
In 1930, a prominent military officer, Col. Richard B. Creecy, committed suicide in the Mayflower Hotel after trying to kill his wife with a hatchet. This strange story includes a bizarre connection to the first airplane fatality in history.
Learn about taxes, regulations and more from Washington in 1840 with this article. We explore regulation of slaves, guns, gambling, and more in this fascinating look into life in the city before emancipation.
Arlington County is named for a plantation. The plantation was named for a mansion. The mansion was named for an English village.
On April 10th, 1865, workmen from the Washington Navy Yard, accompanied by a band, visited Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles to congratulate them and celebrate the Union victory in the Civil War. Lincoln addressed the men and requested a performance of “Dixie” to close the celebration.
