President John Adams’ Letter Naming George Washington Lieutenant General
President John Adams’ letter nominating George Washington of Mount Vernon as Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of All the Armies of the United States.
Notable People
Washington has drawn fascinating characters throughout its history, from city planners and inventors to entertainers and scoundrels. These posts spotlight the people who shaped the capital in ways that didn’t always make it into the textbooks.
Three People You Didn’t Know Were From D.C.
Warren Buffett, Ben Feldman, and Patch Adams were all from the Washington DC area.
What Would Georgetown Have Been Without DC? An Insiders Look from William Corcoran
Get an insider’s look from 19th century banking tycoon William Corcoran about what Georgetown’s prospects would have been had the city of Washington not been placed right next to it. Read on to find out more.
The Old French Embassy on 16th Street and the Ambassador Who Out-Hiked a President
Americans have a complex relationship with France, and the French embassy in Washington, DC has a fascinating history of its own. Learn more about the embassy, and see photos of the building from the 1910s.
Uncovering the Past: An Awesome Photograph Found at The National Archives
Uncovering the past, we found an awesome photograph taken in the Botanical Gardens of Washington D.C. by Mathew Brady at The National Archives. View the original here.
A Look at the Old Patent Office in the Background of a 1860s View of Washington DC
Take a look at this 1860s view of Washington DC, featuring the Old Patent Office in the background. The photograph provides a unique glimpse into the city’s history and architecture.
The DC Pianist Whose Brother Stole the Huberman Stradivarius
In 1924 the Washington Post marveled at 10-year-old DC pianist Sylvia Altman. Twelve years later her brother Julian walked out of Carnegie Hall with a Stradivarius.
Discovering the Story of Officer Sprinkle and the Inspiration for our Logo
Learn the incredible story of Officer Sprinkle and how it led to the inspiration for our logo. Read the original biography from the 1908 Metropolitan Police Department’s official history book, plus the original photo that inspired it!
A ‘Nervous’ Elvis Appears on Jimmy Dean’s WMAL-TV Show
Elvis Presley gave a short interview to Jimmy Dean on WMAL on March 23, 1956, a few weeks after he had released “Heartbreak Hotel.”