Beyond the Mall and the monuments, Washington is full of landmarks with stories worth knowing. These posts cover the squares, circles, markets, arenas, and buildings that have defined the city’s geography and character over the centuries.
Explore a rare map from 1795 showing the Territory of Columbia and the City of Washington surrounded by Maryland. Click to view a larger version and learn more about this piece of history.
A reader shares the story of tracking down a newspaper article connecting their ancestor to Abraham Lincoln, who served as a bodyguard to the 16th President.
The land beneath Washington, DC was once a Maryland plantation called Rome, owned by a man named Francis Pope.
The history of Blodgett’s Hotel in Washington, D.C., from its construction in 1793 through its destruction by fire in 1836.
Take a journey through the streets of Washington DC with these maps from Greater Greater Washington and Flickr user Matt Johnson. Learn more about the city’s history and explore the different street systems.
Flashback to August 14th, 1945 – Victory of Japan day and the final end of World War II. Read about the celebration that took place in front of the White House, in Lafayette Square, and the other regular happenings of the day.
This photograph from circa 1918 shows the interior of the Pension Building in Washington, D.C., decades before it was converted into the National Building Museum. The Great Hall’s soaring columns are already in place.
Take a trip back in time with this amazing photo of Scott Circle in 1950, courtesy of DDOTDC Flickr. Visit Ghosts of DC to learn more
This is a terrific old photo that we found on Flickr. It shows the Lincoln Memorial as viewed across the Memorial Bridge from Virginia. Take a look at this amazing photograph!
