City Beautiful: The 1901 Plan for Washington, D.C.
Brief article on the 1901 McMillan Plan to beautify the city's monumental core.
Duke Ellington's Washington
The black community in Ellington's time and a tour of the Shaw neighborhood where he grew up. Companion site to PBS documentary.
Garfinckel's: A History of America's Sto
Historical mementos of the venerable Washington, DC, department store.
McMillan Commission Plan for Washington in 1902
The Senate Parks Commission, chaired by Sen. James McMillan, developed a plan for the Mall and central Washington that is largely responsible for their current appearance. The site has extensive excerpts from the commission report.
McMillan Commission Report (1902)
Unabridged text of the Senate committee report that proposed a plan for the development of the National Mall and central Washington that is largely responsible for their current appearance. [PDF]
The 1911 Encyclopedia: Washington
Article on the city from the 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The Black Renaissance in Washington, DC, 1920-1930
Biographies of notable black writers, intellectuals, artists and musicians who were active in Washington during the period known as the "Harlem Renaissance." Includes bibliography and timeline. From the DC Public Library Web site.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: District of Columbia
Lists those killed in the Vietnam War from the District of Columbia.
WAMU: Metro Connection: 20th Century Washington
Radio series covers the McMillan Plan, the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, race relations in the 1920s, the 1932 Bonus March, World War II, the desegregation of Thompson's Restaurant in the 1950s, 1960s freeway battles, the fight for self-government in the 1970s, the Marion Barry years, and late-century demographic trends. Originally broadcast on the WAMU radio program Metro Connection. [Audio files]
Washington As It Was
Over 14,000 photographs by Theodor Horydczak are in this Library of Congress collection and can be viewed and searched online. They document architecture and social life from the 1920s to the 1950s, including views of commercial, residential, and government buildings, street scenes and neighborhoods.
Washington Post: Snapshots of a Washington Century
Recollections of 20th century Washington by four longtime residents, with photos.
Washington Post: Washington Century
Series of 26 articles looks back at life during the 20th century, from the 1919 race riot to the "government girls" of World War II to suburban development.