Washington DC
Although America declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776, Washington, DC, did not become the nation’s capital until July 1790. Today Washington is home to many historic national monuments and landmarks. The postcards in this gallery provide scenic views of a selection of these monuments and landmarks, including several of the Smithsonian’s museums.
Color postcard of notable sites in Washington, DC. The Smithsonian Institution Building, or Castle, is featured in the bottom left-hand corner on the front. Other sites on the front are the Washington Monument, the US Capitol, the US Treasury, the White House, and the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Park. The address side has a picture of Thomas Jefferson on the right. The postcard is unused. c. 1886-1898, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 30, Folder: 4A, Negative Numbers SIA2013-01127 and SIA2013-01128.
Sepia postcard of a road running through Rock Creek Park. The road is surrounded by trees. On September 27, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison approved Congress’s act to establish Rock Creek Park. It was one of the first federally managed parks. The main part of Rock Creek Park is 1,754 acres (2.75 square miles), and now includes several other natural and historical sites in DC. Rock Creek Park is home to the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. c. 1908, Possibly I. & M. Ottenheimer, Courtesy of a private collector, No copy available at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Sepia postcard of a creek lined by rocks in Rock Creek Park. There are red smudges on the front of the postcard. The postcard is addressed to Mrs. C.W. Wicket, and is postmarked September 17, 1909. The hand-written message is as follows: “Dear Mary!— Am sending silk in same Mail with this Card— Had no trouble to Exchange it— Hope it will be alright this time, Will try & write in a day or two. Yours— A.” On September 27, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison approved Congress’s act to establish Rock Creek Park. It was one of the first federally managed parks. The main part of Rock Creek Park is 1,754 acres (2.75 square miles), and now includes several other natural and historical sites in DC. Rock Creek Park is home to the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. September 17, 1909, I. & M. Ottenheimer, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 26, Negative Numbers SIA2011-2281 and SIA2011-2282.
Color postcard of Continental Hall at 17th street, between C & D streets, Northwest,Washington, DC. The street in front of the building is empty, and a tree overhangs the left side of the postcard image. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note: “Memorial Continental Hall. This beautiful white marble building was erected by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Completed in 1910 at a cost of about $350,000.” c. 1910-1915, American News Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 67A, Folder: 3, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06679 and SIA2013-06680.
Color postcard with an aerial view of Washington, DC, looking east from the Washington Monument. The National Museum of Natural History is visible on the left side of the image, with a red roof, although in reality it is golden. The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle, can be seen across the National Mall, which is covered by trees. The US Capitol Building is also visible in the background. Trees dominate the front and center of the image. c. 1910, Unknown creator, Courtesy of a private collector, No copy available at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Color postcard of Boulder Bridge in Rock Creek Park. The message side has a printed note about the park: “Rock Creek is famed for the beauty of its Natural Scenery. Boulder Bridge is built of stone found on the park.” The postcard is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Smith, with a message for them, as follows: “Sun. Eve—7 o'clock. Dear M & P. Got up at 6 this A.M. ready to go to Blto [Baltimore]. was misting, & very Cloudy. so gave it up. The mist did not last long. but has been Cloudy all day. marsh has worked. Mother Came up this P.M. Knew you were disapointed [sic], & So was Glades & I, but was so very threatening did not like to risk. with G- could any way. next Sun. is Easter hope may See you both then. This has been a long lonesome day— Will write Soon. Lots of love— Jane—” On September 27, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison approved Congress’s act to establish Rock Creek Park. It was one of the first federally managed parks. The main part of Rock Creek Park is 1,754 acres (2.75 square miles), and now includes several other natural and historical sites in DC. Rock Creek Park is home to the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. April 9, 1911, B.S. Reynolds Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 85, Folder: 26, Negative Numbers SIA2011-2307 and SIA2011-2308.
Color postcard with an aerial view of Washington, DC, and the National Mall. On the left side the National Museum of Natural History is visible, while the Smithsonian Institution Building is on the right. The National Mall is covered with trees and the US Capitol Building is visible in the background. A faded postmark is in the top left-hand corner on the front. c. 1912, Unknown creator, Courtesy of a private collector, No copy available at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Color postcard with a panoramic view of Washington, DC, looking east from the Washington Monument. The front of the postcard has a white border. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note about the scene: “In this view looking east from the Washington Monument may be seen the Smithsonian Institution, New National Museum, Union Station, Senate Office Building, US Capitol Building, Library of Congress and House Office Building.” c. 1915-1930, B.S. Reynolds Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 67, Folder: 12, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06681 and SIA2013-06682.
Color postcard with a panoramic view of Washington, DC, looking east from the Washington Monument. The US Capitol Building is visible in the center background of the postcard. The front of the postcard has a white border, and the postcard is unused. c. 1915-1930, Garrison Toy & Novelty Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 67, Folder: 12, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06683 and SIA2013-06684.
Color postcard with a semi-aerial view of the Library of Congress. It is a sunny day and the trees are full. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note: “The Library of Congress, justly celebrated as the culmination of architectural achievement of the day, was completed in 1897 at a cost of $6,000,000. The Library is here seen from the US Capitol Building. The dome and lantern are finished in black copper, with panels gilded with a thin coating of gold leaf; and the cresting of the dome terminates in a gilded finial representing the torch of Science ever burning.” The front of the postcard has a white border. 1932, Curt Teich & Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 29, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06671 and SIA2013-06672.
Color postcard of the Lincoln Memorial, framed by cherry blossoms, as seen from across the Potomac. The sky is mostly clear and the trees are full. The postcard is unused, and its front has a white border. 1932, Curt Teich & Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 29, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06673 and SIA2013-06674.
Color postcard of the US Capitol Building at night. The building is lit, and a full moon is visible through a break in the clouds. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note about the Capitol: “The United States Capitol, set on a height overlooking the amphitheater of the Potomac, is one of the largest and stateliest buildings in the world. It is 751 feet in length and 350 feet in width, covering three and a half acres. The statue of Freedom on the dome towers 307 feet above the esplanade. The corner-stone was laid by President Washington in 1793; the central building was finished in 1797; and the extensions were first occupied by Congress in 1857 and 1859.” The front of the postcard has a white border. 1934, Curt Teich & Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 29, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06669 and SIA2013-06670.
Color postcard of Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom on Riverside Drive. The Washington Monument is in the center background, and Tidal Basin is in the right foreground. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a printed note: “These beautiful Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees which line Riverside Drive, Potomac Park, are a gift of the Japanese Government to the United States Government. In the Spring of the year they are a most beautiful sight and might suggest to the traveler a scene in old Nippon itself.” The front of the postcard has a white border. 1934, Curt Teich & Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 29, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06675 and SIA2013-06676.
Color postcard of the Washington Monument during Cherry Blossom time. The monument is visible in the background across the Tidal Basin. Cherry blossom trees in full bloom line the right side of the card, curving towards the monument. The postcard is unused, and its front has a white border. 1934, Curt Teich & Co., Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 84, Folder: 29, Negative Numbers SIA2013-06677 and SIA2013-06678.
Color postcard with an aerial view of the National Mall and surrounding buildings. The trees seen in this postcard are no longer in the center panel of the Mall. The Washington Monument and Potomac River are also visible in the background. The front of the postcard has a white border. 1937, Todd Aerial Mapping Service, Courtesy of a private collector, No copy available at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.
Sepia postcard of the National Gallery of Art. The view of the building is from across the National Mall. The grounds and road in front of the building are empty. The postcard is unused, but the message side has a short printed note about the scene: “View of the Building from the Mall.” Though the card is unused, “83-095” has been written in the bottom left-hand corner on the message side, which is the postcard’s accession number. The National Gallery of Art was established by an endowment from Andrew Mellon, which he formed in 1930, known as the A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. The National Gallery of Art was originally going to be part of the Smithsonian. In 1931, Charles Greely Abbot, fifth Secretary of the Smithsonian (term 1928-1944), appointed Mellon to be Commissioner of the Smithsonian Institution's National Gallery of Art. Ultimately, Mellon and his trust decided to establish an institution for art separate from the Smithsonian and took on the name “National Gallery of Art,” while the Smithsonian's galleries took on the name “National Collection of Fine Arts.” The National Collection of Fine Arts is now the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. post-1941, Unknown, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 95, Box 34, Folder: 22, Negative Numbers SIA2013-07216 and SIA2013-07217.
Color postcard of the National Mall, looking out from behind the US Capitol Building towards the Washington Monument. The image is surrounded by gray, purple, and pink borders. c. 1976-1988, Unknown creator, Courtesy of a private collector, No copy available at the Smithsonian Institution Archives.