A brazen daylight assassination attempt against President Truman took place right on Pennsylvania Avenue with a shootout in front of Blair House. It was carried out by militant Puerto Rican pro-independence activists. White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt, was killed protecting the President.

This amazing old photograph shows the intersection of 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., where the Willard Hotel sits. It has some amazing details so click OK it to see them.

This great old photo shows the view looking north on 15th St., just east of the White House and Treasury Department. The intersection is with Pennsylvania Ave. Source: Shorpy

Photos like this can suck up an hour of my time. I just love looking at these. Click on it for a larger version. This shows a scene at 15th and Pennsylvania in 1919. In the background you’ll see the old Riggs Bank building, which is still there, but now the PNC Bank building. Source: […]

What do you see in this photo of Pennsylvania Avenue? It’s an amazing scene from the early 1900s, where you can see the Willard Hotel prominently positioned, as well as the old Washington Post building and the Treasury Building in the background. Let’s do a little analysis of this old image to see what we […]

A stunning old photo of trucks on parade, going west down Pennsylvania Ave. towards the White House.

Here’s an article from The Washington Post in 1925 about a nasty fire in a candy company building on Pennsylvania Avenue just after Christmas. A Spectacular five-alarm fire in the wholesale candy plant of George J. Mueller, 336 Pennsylvania avenue northwest, shortly before 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon wrought $50,000 damage, tied up street car services for […]

When was this photo taken? Can you help date it, because it wasn’t properly labeled. It appears to be the view down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House from the Capitol Dome. Source: Library of Congress

I’m trying to make out where this is today. 15th, Pennsylvania, and G St. don’t really intersect. Can you help out and add your ideas below in the comments? I think we’re looking down Pennsylvania, to the left is New York Ave. and in the middle going away is G St.

This is such a great old photo. Click on it for a much more detailed version. Source: Shorpy

Check out this incredible view of Pennsylvania Avenue in the 1920s. Source: Library of Congress

What a beautiful drawing from the 1920s. This was done by Susan Brown Chase. Source: Library of Congress

Below is a painting of Brown’s Indian Queen Hotel situated on Pennsylvania Avenue. Source: Library of Congress The hotel was located on the northwest corner of 6th and Pennsylvania and was originally run by manager Jesse Brown, starting in 1810. Ten years later, he added a bright sign featuring Pocohontas and gave the hotel its […]

What a cool video! This was a find on the Library of Congress website. Below is the description from the site. “This most excellent picture was secured at the junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street. The parade is headed by a platoon of mounted police; next comes the Grand Marshal, Major- General Francis V. […]

In keeping with the hotel theme this week, we wanted to share a little bit about the National Hotel, formerly situated at 6th and Pennsylvania Ave., across from where the Indian Queen was. The location is currently the site of the Newseum (one of our best museums if you haven’t yet been there). Source: Library […]

Seriously. This city has come a long way from lost sheep and cows on Pennsylvania Ave. Check out this print from 1839. Source: Library of Congress

Here are two great old photos from 1913, showing different angles of a traffic stop. The car is a Haynes roadster, which cost about $4,000 at the time. That’s about $95,000 today, or the cost of a sweet new Tesla. Source: Shorpy

Here is a great series of three photographs from 1902. It depicts a parade of the Grand Army of the Republic going down Pennsylvania Avenue. Source: Library of Congress This was the 36th encampment of the Grand Army in Washington following the end of the Civil War. Below is the program for the festivities that […]

How beautiful is this photo down Pennsylvania Avenue? This was taken from the roof of the Willard Hotel in 1921, at the intersection of 14th street. And, if you like this photo, take a look at this great one of the Willard. Source: Shorpy

What a great shot of Federal Triangle, looking down Pennsylvania Ave. You can also see the Navy Memorial under construction. Source: Library of Congress