Explore Fort Totten through a rare photograph taken just after the Civil War in 1865. See the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery at the gate of the fort in this remarkable image.

A macabre photo share from 1865 of Henry Wirz being executed for war crimes in the Civil War. Wirz was captain of the prisoner of war Camp Sumter near Andersonville, Georgia and one of only two men tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes in the Civil War.

Discover Historic Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Take a virtual tour and learn about the church's history with a Ghost of DC photograph. Visit GoDC for more.

Take a look at this historic photograph of the Capitol Building from the Civil War, taken by the acclaimed photographer Mathew Brady. Learn about the Civil War and see the photo here.

Take a look at this Civil War map of D.C. and its surroundings. Click on it for greater detail and you'll be able to see all the fortifications around the city, including Fort Totten and Fort Lincoln.

What is the origin of Arlington County's name? The story dates back to an old plantation near today's National Airport.

On April 10th, 1865, workmen from the Washington Navy Yard, accompanied by a band, visited Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles to congratulate them and celebrate the Union victory in the Civil War. Lincoln addressed the men and requested a performance of "Dixie" to close the celebration.

Discover a rare collection of Civil War photographs from the Library of Congress, including a Sanitary Commission picture with the Treasury Department in the background.

I received an email from a reader saying she learned of Ghosts of DC through this post on Big Bear Cafe. She kindly asked if I would look into the history of her Bloomingdale condo building in, as she knew very little about it (other than old stories from local cabbies). I’m starting to see an increase in email requests like this, and I wish I could get to all of them, but for this one, I’m happy to oblige. I’ll see what I can dig up for her (and her neighbors) to bring to life...

Take a ground level perspective of life in Washington City in the days after the fall of Fort Sumter. Read about the panic that spread, the Confederate response and the harsh words for President Lincoln and his cabinet. See photos from the era to get a better feel for living in Washington in 1861.