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Washington, D.C. Then and Now: A new photographic guide to the hidden history, stories and architecture of the American capital
Washington, D.C. Then and Now presents a fascinating portrait of the evolution and history of America's capital city since the dawn of photography in the mid-nineteenth century.
Come on a visually stunning journey into the past, learning about the historic sites, and stories, that make up the nation’s capital. Pairing vintage black-and-white photographs with splendid color photographs taken from the same vantage points today, Washington Then and Now is perfect for any local historian, fan of photography or tourist to the city.
The book includes all the tourist must-see places of the capital city such as Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol Building, Patent Office, Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Discover D.C.’s lesser known sites such as the history of the Shepherd Mansion, Georgetown, C&O Canal, and Blagden Alley.
From politics, to Washington, D.C. continues to be at the center spage American history.
Come on a visually stunning journey into the past, learning about the historic sites, and stories, that make up the nation’s capital. Pairing vintage black-and-white photographs with splendid color photographs taken from the same vantage points today, Washington Then and Now is perfect for any local historian, fan of photography or tourist to the city.
The book includes all the tourist must-see places of the capital city such as Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol Building, Patent Office, Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. Discover D.C.’s lesser known sites such as the history of the Shepherd Mansion, Georgetown, C&O Canal, and Blagden Alley.
From politics, to Washington, D.C. continues to be at the center spage American history.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2026
A truly remarkable example of the genre, with some useful insights on Washington DC.
I like these "then and now" photo books, where a historical photo is pared with a modern image to let you see what has changed or not, and I particularly like ones of cities I know well. But Tanner does a very nice job of picking sites that told me parts of DC history I didn't know, or only poorly knew, and she also stages her "now" photos very well to match their historical counterparts. This is especially valuable when she is discussing an important or famous site in which the original buildings in the historical photo have been torn down.
It's not perfect. She makes a mistake on history that isn't really local, and occasionally repeats herself on the historical context from one site to another. But it is overwhelmingly the best of these I've read (and seen) for DC.
I like these "then and now" photo books, where a historical photo is pared with a modern image to let you see what has changed or not, and I particularly like ones of cities I know well. But Tanner does a very nice job of picking sites that told me parts of DC history I didn't know, or only poorly knew, and she also stages her "now" photos very well to match their historical counterparts. This is especially valuable when she is discussing an important or famous site in which the original buildings in the historical photo have been torn down.
It's not perfect. She makes a mistake on history that isn't really local, and occasionally repeats herself on the historical context from one site to another. But it is overwhelmingly the best of these I've read (and seen) for DC.
September 6, 2026
So much more than a photo book, Washington, D.C. Then and Now is a fascinating swath of history that shows where our nation’s capital has been, what remains today, and how much it continues to evolve. A great look back at the buildings, places, and stories that have shaped Washington, D.C.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews