Georgetown History, Washington DC

John Adams Makes Washington, D.C. Official Capital

April 27, 2026March 20, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Why is Washington, DC the capital? John Adams rode from Philadelphia to DC over an entire week. Read the story of his full journey.

Washington is Composed of Land from 19 Original Owners

April 27, 2026March 2, 2012 by ghostsofdc

David Burnes' cottage in 1894 prior to razing (PGCist on Flickr)

19 original landowners were negotiated with, directly by George Washington in March, 1791. He met them during the day and in the evening, closed the deal with them at Suter’s Tavern in Georgetown.

The Story of How The White House Got Its Name

May 6, 2026March 2, 2012 by ghostsofdc

President's Palace design by John Collins

Did you know the White House was once known as the President’s Palace? Read on to learn the history of the White House and the story of the man who almost designed it – John Collins.

The Night John Lennon Died: U2 Plays Raw Emotional Gigs in 1980s Washington

December 8, 2023February 28, 2012 by ghostsofdc

U2 played an emotional show in Toronto on December 8, 1980, hours after Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon in New York City. Still reeling, the band returned soon after to play small venues in Washington D.C. like The Bayou and Ontario Theater. This meta description highlights the tragic timing of Lennon’s death coinciding with U2’s fledgling U.S. touring days as they built towards later superstardom.

The Washington Senators Signed Georgetown Shortstop Charley Moran in December 1902

May 6, 2026January 30, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Half-length portrait of Charles Moran, baseball player for the American League Washington Senators, standing at South Side Park which was located at West 37th Street, South Princeton Avenue, West Pershing Road (formerly West 39th Street), and South Wentworth Avenue in the Armour Square community area of Chicago, Illinois.

In December 1902, the Washington Senators signed Charley Moran, the Georgetown University shortstop, to a baseball contract. Unfortunately, he failed to live up to expectations and was out of baseball by 1905.

If Walls Could Talk: The Looking Glass Lounge

November 22, 2021January 20, 2012 by ghostsofdc

This next installment of “If Walls Could Talk” will be the Petworth watering hole, The Looking Glass Lounge. This is one of my favorite places for a Sunday afternoon beer, especially in the warmer months, out on their back patio. I imagine the place will be packed this evening, and now you guys have another … Read more

The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway Line (“Cabin John Trolley”) from Georgetown

April 27, 2026January 6, 2012 by ghostsofdc

Here’s another cool old streetcar video. This is the The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway line (“Cabin John Trolley”) from Georgetown. Disclaimer: the music is horribly cheesy, so you might want to mute it.

Here’s a little about it from Wikipedia:

Incorporated in 1892 and opened in 1895, The Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway began in Georgetown at 36th and Prospect Streets and ran in a private right-of-way along the lands of the Washington Aqueduct to Glen Echo and from there along the old tracks of the Glen Echo Railroad to Cabin John. Because the railroad never reached Great Falls, but instead terminated at Cabin John, it was often referred to as the “Cabin John Trolley”. It was acquired in 1902 by the Washington Railway and Electric Company. The railway was dismantled in the 1960s, but the former roadbed is still discernible in The Palisades and in Montgomery County, Maryland

Remembering JFK: A Powerful Video of the Kennedy Family Leaving the White House

April 27, 2026January 4, 2012 by ghostsofdc

The country was in mourning, having just lost our President a few weeks earlier in Dallas. This is a pretty somber, powerful and moving video of the Kennedy family leaving the White House and moving into their new Georgetown home at 3038 N St NW. There’s another shot of Jackie visiting JFK’s grave in Arlington Cemetery.