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Fascinating Historical Photos of Washington D.C. From The 1900s

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The first half of the 20th century was an explosive time for the nation’s capital. Washington began to gain worldwide attention with the economic boom and rapid development projects. The McMillan Plan of 1901 helped restore and beautify the downtown core area, including establishing the National Mall, along with numerous monuments and museums. Grand homes for embassies were constructed on 16th Street, north of the White House, and later along Massachusetts Avenue, a strip that is now known as Embassy Row.

These amazing historical photographs will take you back to old Washington at the beginning of the 20th century — capturing streets, towns, landmarks, buildings, and everyday life.

#1 Bond Building, Fourteenth Street, Washington, D.C., circa 1907.

Bond Building, Fourteenth Street, Washington, D.C., circa 1907.

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#4 F Street, looking toward Treasury. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

F Street, looking toward Treasury. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Note the sign on the Lincoln Park streetcar advertising the "hydraulic dive" at Glen Echo.

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#5 Flatmouth, Chief, group. Washington, D.C., ca. 1900s.

Flatmouth, Chief, group. Washington, D.C., ca. 1900s.

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#6 Key Mansion, Washington, D.C., 1908.

Key Mansion, Washington, D.C., 1908.

The Georgetown residence of "Star-Spangled Banner" author Francis Scott Key.

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#7 The Boulevard, Potomac Park. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

The Boulevard, Potomac Park. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

The Washington Monument flanked by the Tidal Basin and Old Post Office

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#8 Ebbitt House, Washington, D.C., 1900

Ebbitt House, Washington, D.C., 1900

The hotel, at 14th and F Streets NW before being torn down in 1925, lives on in the name of the Old Ebbitt Grill a block away.

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#9 Raleigh Hotel, Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Raleigh Hotel, Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

It was originally the Shepherd Centennial Building, at the corner of 12th Street N.W. and Pennsylvania Avenue, now serving as a hotel, along with a newer and much larger annex just to the north.

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#10 Pennsylvania Avenue from Treasury building. Washington, D.C. , November 1900.

Pennsylvania Avenue from Treasury building. Washington, D.C. , November 1900.

Landmarks on view include the U.S. Capitol as well as the Post Office building now bearing the name of Trump International Hotel. At right, Chase's "Polite Vaudeville" Theater in the former Grand Opera House.

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#11 New Pennsylvania [Union] Station, Washington, D.C., 1908.

New Pennsylvania [Union] Station, Washington, D.C., 1908.

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#12 Old warehouse, Water Street S.W., Washington, D.C., circa 1900.

Old warehouse, Water Street S.W., Washington, D.C., circa 1900.

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#13 Lincoln’s Deathplace. Washington, D.C., circa 1900.

Lincoln's Deathplace. Washington, D.C., circa 1900.

The rowhouse at 516 10th Street NW where President Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, after being shot across the street at Ford's Theatre 150 years ago today.

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#14 Thomas Circle and Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

Thomas Circle and Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

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#15 F Street Northwest in Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

F Street Northwest in Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

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#18 The Boulevard, Potomac Park, Washington, D.C., 1908.

The Boulevard, Potomac Park, Washington, D.C., 1908.

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#19 South facade, new Union Station. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

South facade, new Union Station. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

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#20 North from the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C., circa 1904.

North from the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D.C., circa 1904.

Landmarks include the Willard Hotel at left and Old Post Office tower.

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#21 Pennsylvania Avenue — Washington, D.C., June 1903.

Pennsylvania Avenue -- Washington, D.C., June 1903.

Landmarks here include the Old Post Office and that big domed building at the end of the street.

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#22 The old Post Office. Washington, D.C., February 1907.

The old Post Office. Washington, D.C., February 1907.

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#24 The Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

The Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#25 The Fords, Rock Creek, zoo park. Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

The Fords, Rock Creek, zoo park. Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

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#26 Switch yards, Union Station. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Switch yards, Union Station. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Tracks last seen here in April, back for another glimpse of the well-ordered world a century past.

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#27 Library of Congress, Main Reading Room. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

Library of Congress, Main Reading Room. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#28 A.L. McCormick garage, New York Avenue. Washington, D.C., circa 1907.

A.L. McCormick garage, New York Avenue. Washington, D.C., circa 1907.

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#30 President William McKinley second inaugural parade, Pennsylvania Avenue. March 4, 1901.

President William McKinley second inaugural parade, Pennsylvania Avenue. March 4, 1901.

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#31 Harris & Ewing. Exterior, old studio, F Street. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Harris & Ewing. Exterior, old studio, F Street. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Here you can see a doggie in the window.

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#32 Georgetown Prep baseball team. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

Georgetown Prep baseball team. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#33 Carberry Mansion. Washington, D.C., circa 1901.

Carberry Mansion. Washington, D.C., circa 1901.

Built for Thomas Carbery in 1818 at 17th and C Streets N.W.

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#34 Senator George P. Wetmore in an electric car. Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

Senator George P. Wetmore in an electric car. Washington, D.C., circa 1906.

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#36 Stewart’s Castle, Dupont Circle. Washington circa 1900.

Stewart's Castle, Dupont Circle. Washington circa 1900.

The William Morris Stewart house on Massachusetts Avenue, designed by Adolph Cluss, shortly before it was demolished.

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#37 Post Office Department, Washington, 1908.

Post Office Department, Washington, 1908.

The Old Post Office building seen from the corner of 11th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. on a rainy day.

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#38 District of Columbia. Washington Loan & Trust building, 1907.

District of Columbia. Washington Loan & Trust building, 1907.

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#39 The East Front of the U.S. Capitol, with the Washington Monument at left, 1908.

The East Front of the U.S. Capitol, with the Washington Monument at left, 1908.

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#40 Eastern High School football team. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

Eastern High School football team. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#41 Western High football boys. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

Western High football boys. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#44 Maycliffe, R., Miss. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

Maycliffe, R., Miss. Washington, D.C., circa 1908.

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#45 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, 1902.

Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, 1902.

Landmarks in this view from the Treasury steps at 15th Street include the Capitol and Old Post Office. On the bill at Chase's Polite Vaudeville: Capt.

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#46 Mrs. Mary Surratt house at 604 H Street N.W., Washington. Circa 1900.

Mrs. Mary Surratt house at 604 H Street N.W., Washington. Circa 1900.

Boardinghouse owned by Mary Surratt where the Lincoln conspirators are said to have plotted the abduction of the President in 1865.

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#49 Central High School Orchestra. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

Central High School Orchestra. Washington, D.C., circa 1905.

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#50 Junior varsity team at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., 1906.

Junior varsity team at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., 1906.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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5 Comments

  3. An old photo isn’t interesting because it’s old. Most of these photos are just of buildings. The street was evident when they were taken, so it appears they were deliberately taken. Old photos of DC and other places provide a glimpse into everyday life. You are left with a mundane picture of a building by avoiding all the people, mess, and clutter.

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