Washington, D.C. Then and Now

Washington, D.C. Then and Now presents a fascinating portrait of the evolution and history of America’s capital city, from the dawn of photography in the mid-nineteenth century through to the present day.

Come on a visually stunning journey into the past, learning about the historic sites, and stories, that have built the nation’s capital. Pairing vintage black-and-white photographs with splendid color shots taken from the same vantage points today, Washington, D.C. Then and Now is the perfect gift for any local historian, tourist or armchair traveller.

Including must-see destinations in the capital city such as Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol Building, US Patent Office, Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Discover D.C.’s lesser known sites such as the rich history of the Shepherd Mansion, the C&O Canal, Georgetown University, and Blagden Alley. Uncover more about the great presidents, as well as figures lost to time such as the ＂the most obstinate man＂ George Washington had ever met at the Van Ness Mansion, the first woman to be executed by the federal government in the Mary Surratt Boarding House and even President Taft’s beloved cow Pauline Wayne who would graze outside the State, War and Navy Building.

Washington, D.C. continues to be at the center stage of the American story, and now so can you.

Originally hailing from rural New England, Emma developed an interest in history during her childhood through visits to local historic house museums and rewatching National Treasure. What brought Emma to Washington D.C. was the pursuit of her postgraduate degree at George Washington University, having previously received her BA in History and Political Science at the University of New Hampshire. After completing her master’s degree in Museum Studies, Emma continues to have a passion for making museums more accessible to the public, which has shaped her current work.

Working at the President Lincoln’s Cottage, Emma has immersed herself in all D.C. has to offer by learning more about the rich individual characteristics that make up its neighborhoods, and how these connect to create the collective home of the nation’s capital. You can find additional pieces by Emma on WETA’s local history website, Boundary Stones.