In searching for topics to write about, I have tried to keep up a mix of topics, both obvious and obscure, feel-good and…well, today’s topic. The DC Jail was a blot on Capitol Hill from shortly after it opened in 1875 until it was finally torn down in the late 70s/early 80s. But what really […]
Finding topics to write about each week about lost Capitol Hill buildings and institutions can be tricky, as so many have disappeared without a trace. Sometimes, like for the Car Barn, at least the structure remains to remind one of the street cars that once called it home. Other places, like Lincoln’s boarding house on […]
Pierre L’Enfant’s original plan for the Federal City remains the blueprint for the city to this day, and often when trying to decide how best to proceed with a project, the city’s planners look to that 220 year old document to help guide their decision. As the discussion rages on whether to convert Virginia Avenue […]
As the US Capitol and its buildings grew to keep pace with the growing country, many historic buildings were removed to make way for new, purpose-built structures. These lost buildings give endless fodder for these columns, of course, but also represent a tragic loss to those who are historically-minded. Today’s column looks at one particularly […]
Repurposing churches is all the rage these days. Whether they’re being turned into condos, or offices, or bars, the grand spaces and architectural details give the architects in charge a huge variety of options. In some cases, though, it seems as if the best idea would be to keep it as a church. Today’s subject, […]