Tag Archive | Washington DC
May 23, 2018  

Then & Now: Washington Union Station 106 Years Apart

In this special post, I have combined one of Lewis Reed’s original photograph’s for “then” and matched it with a corresponding contemporary shot for “now” to see how the location has changed or remained nearly the same through the years. I started doing this as a research tool, now I mostly do it because of my passion for history and fascination with the subject. In the following photographs, you can see the difference 106 years can make.

Washington Union Station (THEN): Seen in the black & white photograph taken by Lewis Reed in 1912, is Union Station in Washington, DC. Union Station is one of the country’s first great union railroad terminals. Designed by renowned architect, Daniel Burnham, the station opened on October 27, 1907 and was completed in April 1908. At the height of its traffic, during World War II, as many as 200,000 passengers passed through the station in a single day. Today, Union Station is one of the busiest rail facilities and shopping destinations in the United States, and is visited by over 40 million people a year.

Visible in both photos is the Columbus Fountain also known as the Columbus Memorial which serves as a tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus. The fountain sits in the center of the Columbus traffic circle in front of Union Station.

Union Station Washington DC

Washington Union Station, 1912. Photo by Lewis Reed

Washington Union Station (NOW): The same view over a century later. The difference? Color.

Union Station Washing DC 1912

Washington Union Station today

April 19, 2018  

U.S. Capitol Then & Now… 108 Years of Change

You might not realize how much Washington DC has changed until you look back and see what it looked like in the past. I thought it would be fun to revisit an historic location using one of Lewis Reed’s original photographs for “then” and a stock image from today for “now” to see what differences are visible. In the following photographs, you can see how the United States Capitol looks both the same and completely different from a century ago.

U.S. Capitol (THEN): Seen in the black & white photograph taken by Lewis Reed in 1910, is the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Visible in both photos is the white marble Peace Monument that stands in the circle to the west of the U.S. Capitol at Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street, NW. A streetcar can also be seen in the black & white photo. The Pennsylvania Ave streetcar line ran from Georgetown, across Pennsylvania Avenue, past the White House, up to Capitol Hill, and then down to the Navy Yard. With no stop signs, speed limits, or lane lines, the streets of the early 1900s were completely different.

US Capitol 1910

U.S. Capitol as seen from Pennsylvania Ave in 1910. Photo by Lewis Reed

U.S. Capitol (NOW): The same view over a century later hasn’t changed much… except for the traffic and Segway riders with fanny packs.

U.S. Capitol Now

On Pennsylvania Ave and U.S. Capitol building today. A Segway tour is stopped along the bike lanes.