Historic Photos of Washington, D.C. Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, May 15, 2007

The receiver really liked this book

The perfect book for any native Washingtonian like me!

In a nutshell, if you like pictures, especially old ones, then you will enjoy this photo book. I love the old pictures of Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia and just enjoy seeing what looked like a better time. This is one of the three I ordered about old Washington D.C. photos and they all follow the what I've stated above.

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I love Washington history - lived there for 42 years! This is a great book for people who know Washington well.

This book is loaded with invaluable history of Washington, DC. However, I was worried about the condition of this book. I was almost afraid to touch this book because I couldn't tell if a dog or rat had chewed on three corners of the book. As I flipped through the material it was more inviting to read despite the condition of book. I was disappointed in the condition of this book.

The Washington D. C. of today, a gleaming center of government and world power, is a recent creation. This book of very interesting photographs takes us back to the time when photography was new and Washington D. C. was in the throes of the Civil War and in danger of being captured by the South. We see the Capitol being built and old buildings now long gone and replaced. We see Georgetown in squalor with no idea of its future wealth and prominence.The book begins with the Civil War and we see cannon in the city, the conspirators in the assassination of Lincoln hanged, as was Captain Henry Wirz who was in charge of Andersonville. We also get to see the members of the Capitol Bicycle Club! Could you imagine anyone being able to ride a bicycle on the steps of the Capitol today?The next section shows us the turn of the century growth in buildings, prominence, and wealth, but still an age of horses, some buildings that are now only a part of history, and how even today's famous buildings and monuments looked in a much more rural city.There are also some fine pictures of the period post World War I, the Depression, and before the country headed into the Second World War. These pictures are not standard icons that are familiar to everyone. Rather, they are unique views that let us see our history in ways that we don't usually call to mind.The period after World War II is one of decline and the book ends with pictures of parts of the city burned after the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. In all, there are about 200 black and white pictures that will help you see our nation's capital in fresh ways.Fascinating stuff!