Washington, D.C., stands out among American cities because it was conceived as the national capital and needed to be separated from its state counterparts. It was founded on July 16, 1790. Congress authorized the first map of Washington in July 1790. In preparation for the map, Peter Charles L’Enfant requested maps and data concerning London, Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, Naples, Venice, and Florence from Jefferson on April 4, 1791. L’Enfant drew a map of Washington as it is today, showing streets, parks, and the site of the President’s House and the Capitol.
When Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington in December 1800, the Capitol building, the presidential palace (now the White House), and several other government buildings were almost complete. However, the first few years for the new residents in Washington were quite unpleasant because there were few finished dwellings and few amenities. Tremendous changes occurred between 1830 and 1865, beginning with the arrival of Andrew Jackson (served 1829–37). He brought with him a retinue of new civil servants, beneficiaries of the “spoils system,” who democratized social change in the workplace and society. Several challenges faced the community at the time, including an unstable economy, silt in the Potomac River, delays in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal construction, and epidemics.
Washington, D.C., was on the front lines during the American Civil War because of its geolocation. Following the Civil War, the capital slowly transformed into a showplace. Following Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre just hours after the war ended, Washington was plunged into unprecedented despair and desperation. Following the Civil War, the capital slowly became a showplace.
Some stunning historical photos show Washington, D.C., during and after the Civil War.
#1 Smithsonian Institution. By Bell & Bro., Washington, D.C., 1867
#2 Long Bridge, Washington, D.C., 1865
#3 Long Bridge and Washington, 1863
#4 Long Bridge, Washington, D.C., 1861
#5 Hancock’s Veteran Corps on F Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 1st U.S. Volunteer Infantry, 1865
#6 Union Arch, built by Gen. M.C. Meigs, span of 220 feet, 1863
#7 Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown, D.C., looking toward Washington, 1865
#8 Arlington Heights, Va. Blockhouse near Aqueduct Bridge, 1862
#9 Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries, Broadway & Tenth Street, New York & No. 352 Pennsylvania Av., Washington, D.C., 1865
#10 Old Ebbitt Hotel, 1865
#11 The Dying Moments of President Lincoln, at Washington, Saturday Morning, 1865
#12 House near Fort Stevens showing effect of shot during Early’s attack on Washington, 1864
#13 Fort near Washington, D.C. 1865
#14 Washington Navy Yard. View of dock with large buildings and large cranes and derricks, 1867
#15 Washington, D.C. Six marines with fixed bayonets at the Navy Yard, 1864
#16 Officers of 71st N. Y. S. M., Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., 1861.
#17 Ford’s Theatre, 1868
#18 Interior of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1867
#19 Headquarters of Gen. M. D. Hardin, Washington, D.C., April, 1865.
#20 Pennsylvania Avenue from Treasury Building, Washington, D.C.
#21 Pennsylvania Avenue from the [Dept. of the] Treasury, Washington, D.C.
![Pennsylvania Avenue from the [Dept. of the] Treasury, Washington, D.C.](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Washington-D.C-1860s-42.jpg)
#22 Washington, D.C. Soldier springing the trap; men in trees and Capitol dome beyond, 1865
#23 Fort Totten, 1864
#24 Fort near Washington, D.C. May be Ft. Slemmer, 1864
#25 The ‘Lincoln column,’ first monolith raised, Nov. 1860, Presidential election, being S. column of connecting corridor.
#26 Washington, D.C., taken from U.S. Capitol, with Pennsylvania Avenue at left,
#27 Construction of the new Capitol Dome in 1860. The former Botanic Garden Conservatory, originally located on the National Mall, is in the foreground.
#28 View, looking N. from Capitol roof, Washington, D.C., 1861
#29 The Capitol, President’s Room, Washington, D.C., 1863
#30 Washington, D.C. from the Capitol, looking southeast. Southeast view with New Jersey Ave. on the right and A Street and B Street (i.e., Independence Ave.), 1863
#31 A Civil War scene featuring a view of a Confederate Quartermasters House with a group of officers meeting outside, Washington DC, 1863.
#32 View of trains in the Maryland Avenue depot, Washington DC, 1860s.
#33 General Joseph Hooker, 1863
#34 Officers of the 55th Infantry at Fort Gaines, Washington DC during the American Civil War, 1863.
#35 Small Bridge Near Washington, D.C., 1863
#36 View of the aqueduct bridge, in Georgetown, Washington, DC, 1863
#37 New Bridge on the Potomac River Washington, D.C., 1863
#38 Group of patients in front of ward B of Harewood Hospital, near Wasington, DC, 1863.
#39 Mounted guns and ammunition around the perimeter of a fort Washington, D.C., 1863
#40 Entrance to Washington Water Works, Great Falls, Potomac River Washington, D.C., 1863
#41 Barracks of Ft. Carroll Washington, D.C., 1863
#42 Hotel entrance to Long Bridge, Washington, D.C., 1863
#43 Aqueduct Bridge, with Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, 1863
#44 Georgetown ferry-boat carrying wagons, and Aqueduct Bridge beyond, from rocks on Mason’s Island, 1863
#45 Central Office of Sanitary Commission, Washington, D.C., 1863
#46 Home of the Sanitary Commission, Washington, D.C., 1863
#47 Wizard gun at U.S. Arsenal Washington, D.C., 1863
#48 The Aqueduct bridge and Georgetown from the Virginia bank Washington, D.C., 1863
#49 Interior of Fort Totten Washington, D.C., 1863
#50 Cabin John Bridge, looking up stream, 1863
#51 Capitol, Washington, D.C., south-east view, July, 1863
#52 View in arsenal yard, Washington, D.C., 1863
#53 View in arsenal yard, Washington, D.C., 1863
#54 Treasury Buildings, Washington, D.C., 1863
#55 Guns and ammunition inside of Fort Carroll, near Giesboro, Washington, D.C., 1863
#56 Treasury Dept. in Lincoln’s time Washington, D.C., 1863
#57 Hospital of Quartermaster Department Washington, D.C., 1863
#58 Alexander Gardner’s Photographic Gallery, 7th & D Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 1863
#59 Aquia Creek Landing, 1863
#60 View of the Long Bridge, over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., 1862.
#61 The White House, former residence of Mrs. Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, now the residence of Col. Lee, 1862.
#62 View of a Union encampment near Washington D.C., 1862.
#63 View of a 6 pounder Wiard gun, invented by Norman Wiard, at the Arsenal in Washington, DC, 1862.
#64 Hospital and Signal Corps camp quarters near Georgetown, 1862.
#65 Old Capitol Prison, 1861
#66 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1862
#67 Washington, D.C., 1861
#68 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1861
#69 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1861
#70 Battery Rodgers, Potomac River near Washington, 1861
#71 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1861
#72 Distant View of Arsenal, Washington, D.C., 1861
#73 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1861
#74 Campbell Hospital, D.C., 1861
#75 Washington Harewood Hospital, 1861
#76 St. Peter’s Church near White House, Where Washington was Married. General E. V. Sumner and Staff, 1861-65
#77 Botanical Gardens
#78 Fort on the Potomac River
#79 Officers of the Fifty-fifth Infantry inspecting cannons at Fort Gaines, near Tenley, D.C., 1861
#80 Professor Thaddeus Lowe sets up balloon gas generators in sight of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., 1861.
#81 Portrait of Colonel Ambrose Burnside and his staff while he commanded the 1st Rhode Island Infantry Regiment in 1861.
From left to right are paymaster Lieutenant Henry T. Sisson, Sergeant Major John S. Engs, Major Joseph P. Balch, Colonel John A. Gardner, Burnside, Captain Isaac P. Rodman, chaplain Captain Augustus Woodbury, quartermaster Sergeant Elias M. Jencks, and commissary Captain William Lloyd Owers.
