The source image is really cool. It was hard to line this up, I’m guessing because the original photographer shot from a construction platform or something that isn’t there any more. I got as close as I could, though.
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Original photo taken in 1863, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Well, this scene hasn’t changed much at all. The house on the left used to have a balcony on the second floor instead of a full closed floor, but other than that, everything is the same.
The car is a Velie (“a car made in Moline, Ill., by a cousin of John Deere, who invented the steel plow.”). Check out these two great ads for more info (thanks again, Shorpy and Shorpy commenters!).
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Original Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress, discovered via Shorpy.
So the original photograph is of the Mary Surratt House. This is the boardinghouse where the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln was planned. It is now a Chinese restaurant named “Wok n Roll Restaurant”. No, I’m not kidding.
Original photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
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Well, this appears to be quite different, eh? At one point, this square used to be more of a park. And that’s a pretty awesome lamp that’s no longer there. Glad to see they left a few trees at least.
Original Photo taken between 1918 and 1920, courtesy of the Library of Congress
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It’s now a parking lot, but the house next to it survives. Meh.
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Original image courtesy of the Library of Congress, discovered via Shorpy.
The exposure on this was quite difficult, so this didn’t turn out so well, but it is cool that the building remains intact (and in fact, it’s in great shape).
Original photo courtesy of the Library of Congress and discovered via Shorpy (links to come shortly).
Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America, with a very rare (as in, none survive) Birmingham automobile with a rockin’ reptile skin print exterior! Very little has changed except that the light poles over the fountains are no longer there, and the fountains themselves are a little different.
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Original photo taken around 1921, courtesy of the Library of Congress, discovered via Shorpy.
The building in the original photograph was still under construction when this shot was taken, and it’s still there but in some bad shape. Essentially, this particular image comprises the birth and death of a building in Washington.
The building in the far right is the National Bank of Washington building, which is cool but not in great shape anymore either. Everything else is gone, replaced by your typical Washington blahfest.
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Original photo taken in 1921, courtesy of the Library of Congress, discovered via Shorpy
Aside from some underground/lower level stuff, very little has changed here. Well, aside from the lack of flowers in this particular fountain in 1941. Oh, and the parking lot. But you know, aside from that.
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Original photo taken in 1941, courtesy of the Library of Congress
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Nothing about this scene except for the actual Carlyle House is the same. Apparently this view used to be the inside of a courtyard facing the Braddock House Hotel (it’s behind the main building).
Original photo taken in 1900 courtesy of the DC Public Library.
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