washington dc

American War history

Peace declared: American newspaper headlines from the very end of WWI in 1919

In June 1919, a peace treaty with Germany was signed in France, and formally brought an end to the Great War, which we now call World War I.

Washington DC 1922 snow blizzard storm (2)

1920s

Snowy street scenes from Washington DC’s huge blizzard in 1922

In 1922, Washington DC had their biggest snowstorm in 34 years, and in many ways, it brought the city to a halt. Here’s a look at the nation’s capital covered in snow so long ago.

1800s

See how they had to remove snow 100 years ago

Without the kind of winter weather equipment we take for granted, removing snow from city streets and sidewalks was a huge undertaking. Here’s a look!

Christmas dinner from the White House (1889)

Vintage Christmas

What Christmas dinner at the White House was like during the Victorian era (1889)

The Christmas dinner of the President and his cabinet will be like yours. They will have their turkey and their plum pudding…

1970s

I’m Just A Bill – Schoolhouse Rock video & lyrics from the ’70s

This widely-beloved cartoon music video for ‘I’m Just A Bill’ came out in 1975 as part of Schoolhouse Rock, a memorable series of animated shorts that ran with the Saturday morning cartoons.

President Nixon resigns - farewell speech 1974

1970s

President Nixon’s last 17 days in office: Desperate search for a way out after Watergate (1974)

Nixon’s final presidential crisis was thrust upon him by the ruling that he could no longer withhold 64 disputed White House tapes from the Watergate prosecutors. Here is the story of those last 17 days of his presidency.

1910s

War declared: American newspaper headlines from the very start of WWI in 1914

WAR DECLARED: See 31 consecutive front page headlines from DC from those tumultuous weeks leading to the outbreak of hostilities in WWI back in 1914.

Delegates sign the US Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia

1700s

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

The Declaration of Independence IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human

1960s

Watergate is the hot address in Washington DC (1969)

In Washington, it used to be Georgetown — now it’s Watergate Just everybody lives there In the wintertime, Dr. Sam Johnson believed, swallows “conglobulate together”

1970s

Richard Nixon’s first Watergate speech – Text & video (1973)

Richard Nixon’s first Watergate speech was broadcast live from the White House’s Oval Office on April 30, 1973, starting at 9:01 pm Eastern. Below, see a video of his statements, followed by a transcript of the speech.

1800s

See the last photograph ever taken of Abraham Lincoln (1865)

A final look at President Lincoln This photo of Abraham Lincoln was taken on the balcony of the White House on March 6, 1865 by

1800s

Abraham Lincoln assassinated: Official accounts of the President’s murder (1865)

Last evening at about 9:30 p.m., at Ford’s Theatre, the President was shot by an assassin who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The pistol-ball entered the back of the President’s head, and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal.

1950s

Tour guide: Two days of sightseeing in Washington DC (1956)

Washington, the center of our government, is full of the symbols and landmarks of the dangers, travail, achievements, hopes, and fears that the American people experienced while they were making us the nation we now are.

1960s

Mamie takes Jackie on tour of White House (1960)

Mrs Mamie Eisenhower, who will move out of the White House January 20, gave a friendly one-hour tour to the new tenant, Mrs John F Kennedy. Like their husbands at a meeting earlier in the week, the ladies seemed to get along famously.

1700s

George Washington: A look back at his presidency, 40 years later (1838)

George Washington considered the patronage of the government as a sacred trust, created for the good of the whole people, and to be employed for the good of the whole.

1800s

Our national museum: The Smithsonian (1897)

Our national museum Better known to the public as the Smithsonian Institution Founded with funds left to the United States by James Smithson, an Englishman

1800s

Beauties of nine towns (1895)

Beauties of seven towns Their individual charms are somewhat hard to define Characteristics of the girls in several great municipalities Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans,

1980s

Attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan (1981)

1981: President Reagan was wounded in the chest by a gunman, John Hinckley Jr, who tried to assassinate him with a burst of .22-caliber bullets

1920s

Charles Lindbergh’s life story, to age 25 (1927)

How Charles Lindbergh rose from working on a farm to become a worldwide hero for his flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

1940s

Work & play in the White House Oval Office

Roosevelt & FDR (1941) Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt give a joint press conference in the Oval Office of the White House,

1930s

Hep cats dance the Lindy Hop & do the Jitterbug jive (1938-1943)

Eastern “Hep Cats” foremost among fighting jive experts Brooklyn and New York service men are the most original jitterbugs. And Hollywood’s jive experts in the

1920s

Go window shopping in Washington DC in the 1920s

J C Harding & Co, Inc. electrical goods “Housecleaning made easy” – appliances, radio, vacuums Shoe store (1925) Display of Dr Scholl’s shoes and

1920s

1920s car showrooms in Washington DC

Automobiles in window of the Washington Cadillac Co (1927) Oldsmobile window display in DC (c1921) Christmas window display at an unidentified Oldsmobile dealer’s, probably

1940s

Pennsylvania Railroad’s great East-West Fleet (1941)

Spring weather can be mighty uncertain. But there’s nothing uncertain about Pennsylvania Railroad’s great East-West Fleet! These fine modern trains always go … always get

1930s

See President Franklin D Roosevelt at work (1935)

Six photographers were ushered into Franklin D Roosevelt’s office on the afternoon that the Brazilian Trade Agreement was to be signed in 1935. Here’s what they saw.

1800s

Apotheosis of Washington in the Capitol Dome (1865)

Apotheosis of Washington The Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda eye of the Capitol Dome was Constantino Brumidi’s most ambitious work. He painted it over

1970s

Elvis meets with Nixon at the White House (1970)

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON December 21, 1970 MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT’S FILE SUBJECT: December 21, 1970 12:30 p. m. Meeting with Elvis Presley Monday,

1970s

Elvis asks President Nixon to make him a federal agent (1970)

Dear Mr. President. First, I would like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley and admire you and have great respect for your office. I

1910s

The evolution of home brew beer (1914)

The evolution of “home brew” Washington brewer first to discover process of making a harmless, wholesome malt beverage Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. have produced a

1960s

Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I have a dream’ speech (1963)

Martin Luther King’s speech (video) “I have a dream” by the Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference March on Washington

1800s

School calisthenics & outdoor exercise (1899)

Young boys and girls learning to dance Older kids practicing moves Morning stretches

1910s

Walter Johnson: The swiftest pitcher (1913)

Swiftest pitcher’s amazing record Walter Johnson, wonderful hurler, who can snap the ball 122 feet a second – prevents the mightiest batsmen of the American