July 4, 1926: How Washington Celebrated America’s 150th Birthday
A cast of 1,000 on the Capitol steps, 50,000 at the Monument fireworks, and a plea for DC voting rights. How Washington celebrated America’s 150th birthday in 1926.
Washington Monument
Trump Painted It Blue. Henry Bacon Wanted It Invisible: A History of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
On May 7th, 2026, Trump’s motorcade rolled across the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, freshly painted American flag blue. Architect Henry Bacon designed the 1923 pool as a mirror you weren’t supposed to look at, built on dredged Potomac mud with no foundation.
1885 Dedication of Washington Monument
Terrific old photo of the Washington Monument being dedicated in 1885. Check out the amazing details.
Washington Monument Under Construction in 1883
Washington Monument under construction with U.S. Fish Commission hatching ponds in the foreground and Bureau of Engraving and Printing building in the background.
Unfinished Washington Monument in 1877 from the Smithsonian
The Washington Monument sat unfinished for decades. This 1877 view from the Smithsonian Castle shows the stump, looking west toward the Potomac.
The Washington Monument in 1933: A Spectacularly Illuminated Photograph
View a spectacularly illuminated photograph of the Washington Monument in 1933. Click the photo for some great details on the Nation’s Capital during this time!
Washington Monument in 1928: An Old Photo of DC
The Washington Monument in 1928, all 555 feet and 5 inches of it, over a street of vintage cars and well-dressed pedestrians. A Library of Congress photo.
Washington Monument’s Original Design: A Look at Robert Mills’ Ornate Vision
The Washington Monument we know today was not what Robert Mills designed in 1836. His plan included a colonnade and Roman temple that were stripped out.
Washington Monument Almost Built As Pyramid
What if the Washington Monument was built as a pyramid instead of an obelisk? It could have been if this design came to fruition.