Downtown DC from Decades Past
Image from Bill Barrett’s collection, 700 Block of K Street NW, July 20, 1963
The National Building Museum, in partnership with the Historical Society of Washington, DC, is currently running a curated selection of images, taken from the 1960s-‘80s in and around the Mount Vernon Square area in DC, that both preserve and pay homage to the architecture and residents of yore. The exhibit features the photography of Bill Barrett, Chris Earnshaw and Joseph Mills.
Image from Bill Barrett’s collection, 1115 9th Street NW, January 4, 1966
Barrett’s photographs are mostly well-composed and unfussy images of blocks and rows of buildings commissioned by local publisher Kiplinger Washington Editors. One image from 1966 of the now-demolished 1115 9th Street NW (current site of the Convention Center) could easily be captioned “DC’s first pop-up”.
Image from Earnshaw’s collection, 1102 G Street N.W., 1971
story continues below
loading...story continues above
Earnshaw began taking pictures as a preteen in the 1960’s; his photographs are an interesting mix of candid shots of people and studies of architectural details, and his passion for historic preservation comes through.
Image from Mill’s Inner City collection, 1982–1989
Mills’ photography immortalizes the city’s less illustrious side through the 1980’s, with images “shot from the hip” without being freaked through the camera’s viewfinder. The photographer printed his snapshots using film manipulation techniques that create a yellow-and-sepia tinge.
As the city rapidly develops, it is nice to go back and witness what DC was like decades ago. The District II exhibit runs at the National Building Museum until February 12, 2017.
See other articles related to: building museum, mount vernon square, mount vernon triangle, national building museum, photography
This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/mount_vernon_square_from_decades_past/11939.
Most Popular... This Week • Last 30 Days • Ever
Roadside Development filed a sketch plan with Montgomery County this month for the 30... read »
While just a few months into the year, the prices per square foot around DC are start... read »
The Matthew is located on 9th Street, overlooking the iconic Naylor Court and neighbo... read »
Dan Snyder donates house to charity; DC records priciest building sale since 2022; an... read »
This week's Best New Listings include an award-winning craftsman, a condo in a former... read »
DC Real Estate Guides
Short guides to navigating the DC-area real estate market
We've collected all our helpful guides for buying, selling and renting in and around Washington, DC in one place. Start browsing below!
First-Timer Primers
Intro guides for first-time home buyers
Unique Spaces
Awesome and unusual real estate from across the DC Metro