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World War I

Uncovering the Mystery of the Tank Rolling Through Washington in 1918

December 22, 2021November 26, 2013 by ghostsofdc
tank rolling through Washington during World War I

Take a look back in time to 1918 and uncover the mystery of the tank rolling through Washington. See the photo and learn more about this historic moment.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1910s, World War I 11 Comments

The 1915 Capitol Bombing and the Shooting of J.P. Morgan

May 25, 2026September 25, 2013 by ghostsofdc

Learn about the attempted murder of J.P. Morgan in July 1915 and its connection to a bomb that exploded in the Senate Reception Room. Discover the backstory of J.P. Morgan in 1919 and its role in US foreign relations in Paris.

Categories Historical Events, Notable People & Places Tags 1910s, Capitol Building, World War I 1 Comment

Austria Has Chosen War: Washington, D.C. and the Newspaper Front Pages of 1912–1919

April 29, 2026July 26, 2013 by ghostsofdc
Washington Times - July 28th, 1914

Seven years of Washington Times front pages: from the Titanic in 1912, to the day Austria declared war in 1914, to the first Fourth of July after the armistice.

Categories Historical Events, This Day in History Tags 1910s, Washington Monument, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, World War I

George O. Totten’s Lost Design for the Calvert Street Bridge

April 29, 2026June 5, 2013 by ghostsofdc
proposed Calvert St. bridge in 1917

D.C. architect George Oakley Totten Jr. spent 16 years fighting to see his 1917 Calvert Street Bridge design built. Here’s why it never happened.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, Adams Morgan, Architecture, Bridges, Rock Creek Park, streetcars, World War I

A Comparative Look at the Colorized Photo of a WWI Bond Scene

March 3, 2023December 17, 2012 by ghostsofdc
Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Robert Hall, group." in color

Take a look at this comparative photo of a WWI bond scene by Shorpy. See the colorized photo that replicates Joseph Leyendecker’s BSA Liberty Loan poster. View the before and after photos to compare the history in full color!

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1910s, World War I 6 Comments

The Emotional Reunion of a Soldier and His Baby: A Powerful Photo

November 26, 2021November 28, 2012 by ghostsofdc
1919. "U.S. Army. Return of Washington, D.C., soldiers." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative.

This powerful photo captures the emotional reunion of a soldier and his baby. The soldier looks absolutely thrilled to be back, while the baby, on the other hand, not so thrilled to be handled.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1910s, World War I 1 Comment

98 Years Ago Today: The Impact of World War I on Schools in Washington, DC

May 6, 2026August 8, 2012 by ghostsofdc
French assault Germans in trench warfare

98 years ago today, the Washington Times reported on the impact of World War I on schools in Washington, DC. Many teachers were stuck in Europe, causing consternation among education authorities and joy to young Americans. Read more to find out!

Categories This Day in History Tags 1910s, World War I 1 Comment

The Citizens’ Military Training Camp in Washington DC

May 6, 2026July 27, 2012 by ghostsofdc
August 21, 1922. "Citizens' Military Training Camp, Camp Meade" (Fort Meade, Md.). National Photo Co. (Shorpy)

The Citizens’ Military Training Camp gave young men across the Washington DC area a summer of military training. Here is what the experience looked like.

Categories Faces & Places of Yesterday Tags 1920s, Arlington, Military, World War I 1 Comment

The Unusual Arrest of Five-Year-Old Gus Oputz in 1908 Washington D.C.

May 6, 2026April 30, 2012 by ghostsofdc

This is an odd story from the Washington Times. The paper reported on August 11th, 1908 the arrest of a young five-year-old. Yes, a little kid was arrested and it’s a bizarre story. Learn more about the unusual arrest of five-year-old Gus Oputz in Washington D.C. in 1908.

Categories From the Crazy Vault Tags 1900s, Metropolitan Police Department, World War I 1 Comment
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