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Southwest Washington, D.C.: A defined neighborhood even without a proper name.

The quadrant of Southwest Washington, D.C. has a clear border southwest of the U.S. Capitol Building, nestled along the oldest waterfront in the city. Its physical delineations have defined it as a community for more than 250 years, beginning in the mid-1700s with emerging farms. By the mid-1800s, a thriving urban, residential, and commercial neighborhood was supported by the waterfront where Washingtonians bought seafood and produce right off the boats. In the 1920s and 1930s, an aging housing stock and an overcrowded city led to an increase of African Americans and Jewish immigrants who became self-sufficient within their own communities. However, political pressures and radical urban planning concepts in the 1950s led to the large-scale razing of most of SW, creating a new community with what was then innovative apartment and cooperative living constructed with such unusual building materials as aluminum. Author and local historian Paul K. Williams provides and in-depth look at it all.

The Jewish community of Washington, D.C., located in the political nexus of the United States, has often enjoyed attention from people of every level of influence, including the president of the United States. On May 3, 1925, Calvin Coolidge attended the cornerstone laying ceremony of the Washington Jewish Community Center. Herbert Hoover, as a former president, was vocal in his denunciation of Nazi Germany's treatment of the Jews. His voice garnered the support of many United States senators in 1943, including two from Maryland and one from Virginia. Ronald Reagan sent his personal regards to the Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Congregation on their 100th anniversary celebration on April 10, 1986.

On the evening of January 28, 1922, several hundred people fought their way through the greatest snowstorm in Washington's history to see a show at the Knickerbocker Theater, the city's largest and most modern moving picture theater of the time. Unbeknownst to the theater patrons, the Knickerbocker Theater's flat roof was tremendously burdened by the weight of the snow. During the show's intermission, the snow-covered roof crashed down upon the crowd. As the roof fell, it collapsed the theater's balcony and pulled down portions of the surrounding brick walls, killing 98 people and injuring 133. Some of Washington's prominent politicians and business owners were among the casualties. The disaster ranks as one of Washington's worst in history, and the snowstorm continues to hold the record for Washington's single greatest snowfall.

Visit the important developments in these Washington DC neighborhoods, the stately homes and notable citizens in this compelling visual record.

From the farm and orchard lands of the mid-1880s to the Civil War encampments, from modest wood frame homes to vast residences of Victorian splendor, the area surrounding the closely located Logan, Scott, and Thomas Circles has for many years been at the center of a rich history. Comprising a diverse architectural and social heritage, these neighborhoods have played a part in the great story of the capital city and have been home to the working man and woman, the wealthy, the middle class, and the politically powerful alike.

Following their use as the site of hangman's gallows for Civil War traitors, all three circles evolved into lush parks surrounded by the elegant, Victorian-era homes that housed nearly all of the nation's elite by the 1890s. Prior to the turn of the twentieth century, these neighborhoods were home to Washington's most influential citizens-pioneers and politicians, generals and industrialists-and, in the 1930s, to well-known leaders of the city's African-American community, such as Mary McLeod Bethune and Bishop Charles M. ""Sweet Daddy"" Grace. Logan Circle survives much as it was today, but many readers will not recognize the early homes, now long gone, that once surrounded Scott and Thomas Circles and have since been replaced by office buildings, hotels, and commercial establishments. Fortunately, a compelling visual record of the development of Logan, Scott, and Thomas Circles remains.

The Palisades neighborhood, in the extreme western corner of Washington, D.C., lies on the Maryland side of the Potomac River at Little Falls. Its history and landscape are inextricably linked to the river. George Washington, as president of the Patowmack Company, determined that a skirting canal was necessary to navigate around the rapids at Little Falls. Later, the skirting canal was replaced by the C&O Canal. Nowadays the river and the canal are used for
recreational sports, and the Capital Crescent Trail, formerly a railroad bed used to bring coal in from West Virginia, is a haven for dog-walkers, bike-riders, and joggers. But despite this constant flow of people and the current pressure for development, the Palisades maintains a stable residential population and enjoys a friendly, small-town atmosphere.

In Washington, D.C., a city steeped in history--from museums and monuments to statues and stations--there are perhaps no structures as prominent as the working symbols of the United States' three-branch government: the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court. Embodying our nation's complex and, at times, tumultuous history, these buildings also house invaluable pieces of our American past. A visit to these national treasures provides a lesson in both the people and events that have shaped this country. Representing the heart, soul, and strength of American independence, the White House, the Capitol, and the Supreme Court tell a fascinating true story--one that includes presidents, vice presidents, senators, justices, and political visionaries. Touring the buildings, visitors see such familiar faces as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Susan B. Anthony, as well as learn about lesser-known figures such as Chippewa warrior Beeshekee, Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite, and Vice Presidents Daniel Tompkins and William R. King. The paintings and portraits that adorn the walls, the statues in every corner, and the rooms themselves provide commentary on the political life of a developing nation.

Unitarians established a church in the nation's capital in 1821, and the first Universalist sermon in Washington was presented at city hall in 1827. Since these beginnings, Washington-area Unitarians and Universalists have created congregations that affirm ideals of religious liberalism: a commitment to religious freedom, a reasoned approach to faith, a hopeful view of human capacities to create a better world, and the belief that God is most authentically known as love. Images of America: Unitarians and Universalists of Washington, D.C. features prominent figures such as Robert Little, an English Unitarian who fled his native land and became minister of First Unitarian Church of Washington; political rivals John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun, both founding members of the congregation; and Clara Barton, who organized the American Red Cross after her experiences on the battlefields during the Civil War. In 1961, Unitarians and Universalists joined together, and the story continues as Unitarian Universalists interpret the values of religious liberalism for each new generation.

For a century, the Wardman Park Hotel has been the choice hotel destination for everyone from politicians to celebrities and tourists enjoying a visit to our nation's capital. Built in 1918 by developer Harry Wardman on the site of his expansive mansion, the hotel's architect designed the hotel to take advantage of the bucolic park-like setting. Wardman Park Hotel was both an upscale hotel and a residence, with US presidents, vice presidents, congressmen, Supreme Court justices, and celebrities residing there. Life at Wardman Park Hotel was like living at a resort, as guests relaxed in the hotel's enormous pool and attended lavish galas. Over the years, Wardman Park Hotel has undergone many expansions; however, a portion of Harry Wardman's original structure remains. Today, the hotel includes well-appointed rooms, luxurious suites, and condominiums and is regarded as a prime convention and meeting space destination.

The Washington Canoe Club has been a landmark on the Georgetown waterfront of the nation's capital for over a century. Its iconic Victorian boathouse, now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, has survived floods and fires as well as changing land uses along the Potomac shoreline. The canoe club is best known for its prowess and as a pioneer in national and international paddling competition, from introducing canoeing as an Olympic sport in 1924 to bringing women fully into competitive paddling. But the story is also one of the coming of age of outdoor recreation and social clubs in America's cities, where, post-Civil War, people came to enjoy new leisure time and "physical culture" in a wide variety of outdoor activities.

The valiant story of the nation's capital facing the challenges of World War II told in over 200 rare, historical images that bring the past to life.

As the country prepared for World War II, the nation's capital took center stage. Washington residents witnessed the local population nearly double in a few short years, as a mostly female work force descended on the city, while its male population was sent off to combat in Europe and the Pacific. Washingtonians planted victory gardens, ran scrap drives, and suffered the effects of severe rationing along with the rest of the nation, while military personnel manned anti aircraft batteries around the city. New government agencies were created and existing ones expanded dramatically-most doubled their workforce and constructed hundreds of temporary facilities on the Mall and throughout the city. Washington also witnessed the construction of the largest office building in the world, the Pentagon, which was completed in just 16 months. Washington, D.C.: The World War II Years captures nearly 200 fascinating images from this era. These archival photographs chronicle the beginning stages of war preparation, little known civic defense organizations, VE and VJ celebratory parades, and the overall spirit of the continually persevering capital city.

View the legacy of the long-standing African-American neighborhood that formed the close-knit community today.

Located in the far northeastern edge of the city, Deanwood is one of Washington, D.C.'s oldest, consistently African American neighborhoods. Rooted in slave-based agriculture on white-owned land, the community began its transition from rural to urban development with the 1871 arrival of a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad along its western boundary. This period after the Civil War offered blacks the opportunity to become landowners. Since this time, many notable Washingtonians of various ethnicities have been residents and frequent visitors to the area. In the early 1920s, it was home to Suburban Gardens, the only permanent amusement park ever to be housed within the city limits. Many of Deanwood's families have lived in the community for generations, which makes it stable and close-knit.

Take a historical walking tour and see how the Federal City grew from farmland to world capital.

When it was passed in 1789, the Constitution set out the boundaries not only for a new government but for a new capital city as well. At the time, the new District of Columbia covered 5,000 acres and was dominated by marshland on the south, pastureland on the area that is now the Mall, farms near the White House and Capitol Hill, and undeveloped woods throughout. This engaging photographic history has striking images and detailed captions that tell the fascinating stories behind many of the famous and not-so-famous buildings and monuments that cover the D.C. landscape - from Union Station and the Capitol to the White House and the Watergate Hotel and many important sites in between!

Located just four blocks from the White House, the Mayflower Hotel is "Washington's Second Best Address," as coined by frequent guest and former U.S. president Harry S. Truman. The hotel, which opened its doors on February 18, 1925, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized for its architectural significance as well as its historic distinction. The first major social event at the Mayflower Hotel was Calvin Coolidge's charity and inaugural ball. This began a tradition of hosting inaugural events for Democratic and Republican presidents. The hotel's history is inextricably tied to the history of the nation's capital and, in many ways, to the nation itself. In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt wrote his inaugural speech in Suite 776 with the famous line, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." J. Edgar Hoover ate lunch at the Mayflower every working day for more than 20 years. In 1973, the Mayflower served as the temporary Chinese Embassy while their offices were being renovated. For over 80 years, this landmark has been regarded as the "Grande Dame of Washington, D.C."

For generations, movies and television have been sources of entertainment that have shaped the country's consciousness. Washington, DC, Film and Television chronicles popular and obscure films and television programs that feature Washington, DC. Sharing the sites, neighborhoods, institutions, and monuments that filmmakers used as their settings, this exciting title takes readers behind the scenes of classic movies, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Houseboat, and The Exorcist. Familiar television programs that transmitted local news and information are featured alongside photographs of some of Hollywood's greatest stars. With the nation's capital as a backdrop, the landscape, architecture, and history of Washington have always and will continue to make it an aesthetically exciting and authentic locale for the many story lines of Hollywood.

Washington, DC, Jazz focuses, primarily, on the history of straight-ahead jazz, using oral histories, materials from the William P. Gottlieb Collection at the Library of Congress, the Felix E. Grant Jazz Archives at the University of the District of Columbia, and Smithsonian Jazz.

Home to Black Broadway and the Howard Theatre in the Greater U Street area, Washington, DC, has long been associated with American jazz. Duke Ellington and Billy Eckstine launched their careers there in the early 20th century. Decades later, Shirley Horn and Buck Hill would follow their leads, and DC's jazz millennials include graduates of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. For years, Bohemian Caverns and One Step Down were among the clubs serving as gathering places for producers and consumers of jazz, even as Rusty Hassan and other programmers used radio to promote the music. This volume also features the work of photographers Nathaniel Rhodes, Michael Wilderman, and Lawrence A. Randall.

In 1801, on a ridge that overlooked the incipient national capital, Philip Barton Key, uncle and mentor of Francis Scott Key, built a Federal-style house and named it Woodley. Its extraordinary vistas, together with its extensive grounds and stables, would subsequently attract a series of residents that not only included two presidents, but also some of the most eminent senators, cabinet officers, generals, and socialites of their respective eras. In a sense, the history of Woodley is a history of the nation. This volume contains 200 years of images that detail the history of the house and the men and women who lived there. In doing so, it persuasively supports the contention that, with the single exception of the White House, no house in America can boast a roster of residents comparable to that of Woodley.

Woodley Park celebrates the history of one of Washington D.C.'s most sought-after addresses. Once an area consisting of wooded land and scattered farmsteads, the neighborhood has experienced dramatic changes over the years. In 1797, Francis Scott Key's uncle purchased 250 acres and three years later built "Woodley," a house owned today by the Maret School. A century later, the neighborhood was connected to the city by the "million dollar bridge" over Rock Creek Park, and has since been the home to several U.S. Presidents, statesmen, diplomats, and the working class alike. This volume contains more than 200 images of prominent homes built during the neighborhood's infancy, mills along Rock Creek, the beginnings of the National Zoo, and the construction of the prominent Woodley Park and Shoreham Hotels, constructed by prolific builder and Woodley Park resident Harry Wardman.