Skip to content
Ghosts of DC

Ghosts of DC

  • The Best Of
  • Neighborhoods
    • Southwest DC
      • Waterfront
    • Maryland
      • Gaithersburg
      • Rockville
      • Bethesda
      • Hyattsville
      • Silver Spring
      • Bladensburg
    • Virginia
      • McLean
      • Falls Church
      • Alexandria
      • Vienna
      • Arlington
    • Southeast DC
      • Congress Heights
      • Navy Yard
      • Capitol Hill
      • Anacostia
    • Northeast DC
      • Trinidad
      • Woodridge
      • Deanwood
      • Brookland
    • Northwest DC
      • Tenleytown
      • Park View
      • Friendship Heights
      • Brightwood
      • Crestwood
      • Sheridan-Kalorama
      • The Palisades
      • Logan Circle
      • Petworth
      • Glover Park
      • Bloomingdale
      • Georgetown
      • Woodley Park
      • Dupont Circle
      • Columbia Heights
      • Cleveland Park
      • Adams Morgan
      • Mt. Pleasant
      • Chevy Chase
      • Cathedral Heights
      • Chinatown
    • Lost Neighborhoods
      • Hell’s Bottom
      • Swampoodle
      • Murder Bay
  • Notable People & Places
    • Places
      • Washington Monument
      • Library of Congress
      • The White House
      • The Capitol Building
      • Dulles Airport
    • People
      • Franklin D. Roosevelt
      • Calvin Coolidge
      • Officer Sprinkle
      • Dwight D. Eisenhower
      • Warren G. Harding
      • William McKinley
      • Abraham Lincoln
      • John F. Kennedy
      • Teddy Roosevelt
      • Woodrow Wilson

Georgetown

Georgetown is one of Washington’s oldest neighborhoods, predating the federal city itself. These posts explore its colonial-era streets, Federal rowhouses, working waterfront, and the characters who shaped one of DC’s most enduring communities.

Recounting a College Prank that Nearly Went Wrong in Georgetown University in 1900

January 7, 2014 by ghostsofdc

In 1900, a college prank in Georgetown University nearly went wrong. Students attempted to scare a stable attendant, but a horse was stolen and the police were called. Read more about this bizarre incident on Ghosts of DC.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags Georgetown, Georgetown University

A Look Back at “Rush Hour” in 1960s DC

December 3, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Wisconsin Avenue, NW, south of O Street at "rush hour" (June 30, 1960).

Take a look back in time to 1960s Washington, DC, when the streets were filled with cars and buses during what looked like “rush hour.” See the photo and read the story of the days before streetcar tracks were taken out.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1960s, Georgetown 2 Comments

Then and Now: Thomas Jefferson Street in Georgetown

November 15, 2013 by ghostsofdc
1072 Thomas Jefferson St. NW

Explore the transformation of Thomas Jefferson Street in Georgetown from 1899 to present day with this Then and Now comparison. See the same buildings in the Library of Congress photo and on Google Street View. Share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook!

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday, Then and Now Tags 1890s, Georgetown

Searching for a Reliable Ghost: The Frustrations of a Ghost Hunter

May 6, 2026October 24, 2013 by ghostsofdc

Searching for ghosts can be a tedious and oftentimes fruitless endeavor. In this blog post, read about the frustrations of a ghost hunter and the unique request made by one psychical research society in the late 19th century!

Categories Guest Posts Tags Georgetown, Urban Legends 1 Comment

Believe it or Not: A Look Back at Georgetown During the Flood of 1918

October 15, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Flood caused by the ice jam in the Potomac River in March, 1918. Scene in Georgetown. General Photograph Collection, HSW

Take a look back in time to the incredible flood of 1918 in Georgetown, DC. Thanks to the Historical Society of Washington, DC, we have an incredible photo to share. Believe it or not – can you recognize this location?

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1910s, Georgetown 2 Comments

Georgetown University Advertisement in 1918

February 18, 2023October 8, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Georgetown University 1918 Advertisement

The ad provides a glimpse into the past and the pivotal role that education played in the nation’s war efforts. It is a testament to Georgetown University’s dedication to serving the country and its commitment to upholding the values of service, justice, and the common good.

Categories Old Ads & Classifieds Tags 1910s, Georgetown, Georgetown University

The Unlikely Fairy Tale of Baron Bodisco and Harriet Williams: A May-December Romance in Gtown

January 20, 2022September 26, 2013 by ghostsofdc

Russia’s ambassador Baron de Bodisco was nearly 60 when he married 16-year-old Georgetown schoolgirl Harriet Williams.

Categories A Personal Story, Guest Posts Tags 1840s, embassies, Georgetown 1 Comment

A Look Back in Time: A Baseball Game at Georgetown University in 1900

August 29, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Georgetown baseball game

Take a look back in time to a baseball game being played on the Georgetown University grounds in 1900. See a photo of the game from the Georgetown University Library.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1900s, Baseball, Georgetown, Georgetown University

Copley Hall at Georgetown University: Photos from 1931

May 6, 2026August 27, 2013 by ghostsofdc
The Hall was named for Thomas Copley, S.J. (ca. 1595-1652). Among its many external decorations is a large Latin inscription on its middle gable which reads: 'Moribus Antiquis Res Stat Loyolaea Virisque.' This has been translated as: 'Loyola’s Fortune Still May Hope To Thrive, If Men and Mold Like Those of Old Survive.' The south gable bears the family crest of St. Ignatius Loyola who founded the Society of Jesus, the lily of the seal of the University of Paris where he was educated, and the seal of the Society of Jesus.

Copley Hall opened at Georgetown University in 1931 as one of the campus’s major new buildings. Here are the original photos from its opening.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1930s, Georgetown, Georgetown University 1 Comment
Older posts
Newer posts
← Previous Page1 … Page3 Page4 Page5 … Page8 Next →
Explore the Archive
The Best Of Old Ads & Classifieds Then and Now Lost History
GoDCers Love Maps From the Crazy Vault Faces & Places of Yesterday If Walls Could Talk
Historical Events Notable People & Places This Day in History Guest Posts
Three Things… A Personal Story Why Is It Named…? Featured
Ghosts of DC© 2012–2026 Ghosts of DC · AI Policy