Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is well known for its expansive mall and world famous monuments, but relatively little has been published about the district's historic neighborhoods, where residents have lived since its selection as the nation's capitol in 1790. This volume compares rare vintage photographs with contemporary views and paints a fascinating historical portrait of the dynamic neighborhoods that support the growth and prosperity of the nation's capitol.
Then and Now: Washington, D.C. includes images of U Street's nightlife, produce and fish markets along the waterfront, the prestigious Congressional Cemetery of Capitol Hill, popular drinking holes on Pennsylvania Avenue, Orville Wright's groundbreaking test flight in 1909, and Georgetown's renowned Dodge Mansion radically changed over the years. These photographs, many of them never before published, shed new light on D.C.'s rich cultural, social, and architectural heritage.

Author and local historian Paul K. Williams is the proprietor of Kelsey & Associates, which specializes in researching building history and historic easements. Architectural historian and photographer T. Luke Young has been writing about urban environments for nearly a decade and most recently worked for D.C.'s Office of Planning where he assisted communities in preservation and revitalization efforts.