DC Washington Books

What a terrific book! The pictures and informations are great,
well-organized, and make the monuments easily accessible. Every
student of the Civil War living in the DC/Northern Virginia/Maryland area should have a copy of this book. The photos alone are really worth the cost of the book. Wonderful!

As a resident of Capitol Hill, I found this book useful and informative. I, for one, had no idea that the Congressional Cemetery just a few blocks from my home contained the first Civil War era monument erected. Nor did I know that the first major Lincoln Memorial was right here on the hill.

The book is fascinating and can provide either a brief, or detailed, look at the monuments.

The only thing the book is lacking is a MAP to help the unitiated into the world of DC's complicated streets.

As a citizen working in the District of Columbia, and an avid walker, I have been fascinated with the vast array of statues present virtually everywhere in the city. I have been searching for a source of information that could help me with learning about the history of the pieces. While I was looking for something a little less specific - or I should say, more far reaching (there's a lot, a whole lot of statues in D.C.) than the subject of this book - what is here is fascinating and very informative. I have spoken with some tour guides that visit the statues with tourists, and some of the information that they share about the statues and sites differs slightly than what is written here - but I am so confident in the thoroughness of Ms. Jacobs' research - I am sure these guides are speaking the embellishment of popular myth. I would love to share some of this elaboration with the author to confirm this notion.

Les Standiford is a successful novelist and a great story teller. His story of the selection of Washington DC, the building of the public buildings, their burning during the War of 1812, and the rebuilding afterwards reads like a novel and is well worth reading. There are a few errors but not fatal ones. I'm not a historian, but James Madison was not a senator (page 67); Patrick Henry became his political enemy in Virginia after losing the state ratification vote on the Constitution, and the opposition of Henry's followers resulted in Madison serving in the House rather than the Senate. On page 267 Madison at Bladensburg is described as the only president to be on a battlefield, but Lincoln was shot at in July 1864 at Fort Stevens in DC during Jubal Early's attack. The author says the burning of Washington was a kind of Pearl Harbor or 9/11 of its day, with citizens so outraged that their largely indifferent attitude to the new Potomac location was tranformed into a determination to rebuild on the site. But the vote in Congress to keep the capital in DC and rebuild only passed by nine votes, so this comparison may be a bit overblown. Also, the roles and characters of Andrew Ellicot and Benjamin Banneker could have been developed more. Despite these comments this book is well worth the read, especially for it's portrayal of George Washington, L'Enfant, Adams, and the Madisons, with tribute to the courageous role of Dolley Madison in saving many valuables from the White House. This is a very interesting story most Americans aren't aware of, and they'd profit from the well told tale of the founding of our nation's capital and the personalities of the real characters involved in the story.

I would have enjoyed the book more had the author not try to make the analogy of the "War of 1812" and the British Invasion and the Burning of Washington synonymous with the attack on our homeland that took place by maniacal and fanatical Islamic Fascists during 9/11-but that is the way modern day historians see things.

Having said that, the story is very compelling and L'Enfant an amazing character worth reading. While the writer has taken some liberty in portraying the personal frustrations of Washington in dealing with this artsy fartsy character, he also does an extraordinary job of making what most likely occurred behind the scenes come to life. Jefferson as usual is portrayed as a slick politician whose behind the scene maneuvering would have been very welcome in today's political climate. This seems to be a theme that all authors adhere to.

What is best about this book is to see a prescient dream come to life despite all the hostilities and power struggles.

In the long run who won in the famous trade? Hamilton with Assumption and the establishment of a National Bank or Jefferson/Madison with the Washington being the Capital?

Very worthwhile reading if you like history that is palpable. The only reason I took one star away, and that is a personal preference not a criticism, is because for me too many characters are introduced that had a minimal impact on the historical fact that, in my opinion, would have been better left out to allow for smoother reading of this compelling story.

Les Standiford's Washington Burning focuses on an often ignored, but highly significant event in our nation's history--the British invasion of Washington, D.C. during the War of 1812. With a historian's meticulous eye and a novelist's flair for drama, Standiford recounts the efforts of the brilliant, eccentric architect, Peter L'Enfant, whose vision for the nation's capitol ultimately prevailed in the face of political resistance, rampant corruption, and the devastation of war. At the same time, Washington Burning describes how a terrorist attack on U.S. soil galvanized a nation. This well-written book is highly recommended.

Combined with two local exhibits from this book (Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the Arlington Visitors Center), this book offers a great amount of interest and knowledge of Washington in WWII. An interesting read with fantastic photographs.

I absolutely LOVE these books. I have all the 'Images of America' books pertaining to my hometown area, and having recently moved to DC, I bought the books about this area. They are just as interesting and informative as the others.

I learned so many things I never knew about our Nations Capitol, and loved seeing WWII pictures of places that I've been. I decided that I'm going to get one of these books each new place I live (being military, we live many different places). They're a great way to get a quick lesson about your towns history and background.

If you see one of these books about your own town...I definitely recommend picking it up. They are one of the best sources of information I've found. I'll absolutely be getting some of the others about the DC area!

A wave of patriotism and memory swept over Washington D.C. in May, 2004 when the World War II Memorial opened on the National Mall. Paul Williams's collection of photographs "Washington D.C. the World War II Years" was released to coincide with the opening of the Memorial. As does the Memorial, Williams's book recaptures for many Americans the energy and commitment that was brought to bear at a critical moment of our Nation's history. The book consists of about 200 photographs of Washington D.C. showing the response to WW II together with commentary and annotations.

The book is part of the "Images of America Series", a series of books that, as the publisher describes them, "celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country." It is a worthy venture. Paul Williams is a long-time student of the Washington D.C. area who has written 12 books for the series, most of which are about various neigborhoods in the city.

In describing WW II Washington, international, national, and local interests converge. Williams's photographical portrait thus includes scenes of international and national leaders but it shows as well the impact of the conflict on the local population -- the many residents who make up the population of our capital city. Williams shows how the City expanded during the War and how the new and former residents responded.

The book is in seven sections and opens with a chapter called "Planning for War." Appropriately, the first image in the chapter is a photo of isolationists protesting against what would soon become American participation in this global conflict. Photos of Marian Anderson's famous concert on the National Mall in 1939, among other photos, help set the backdrop for the Washington D.C. of the war years. A chapter of the book is devoted to the construction of the Pentagon, which was hastily completed during the war years. This is followed by a chapter documenting the blackouts, air raid shelters, and efforts to protect the city from attack that ensued with the United States's entry into the War. A fascinating aspect of this story, document briefly here, is the discovery of two German teams who were smuggled into the United States on u-boats to commit sabotage. Eight participants were ultimately discovered, tried in Washington, D.C. and electrocuted in August, 1942.

Chapters 4-6 of the book document the War's local impact as Williams presents photographs of D.C. residents standing in ration lines, collecting scrap and books for the War effort, and planting "victory gardens". A lengthy chapter documents the impact of women in Washington, D.C., both civilian and military, as "government girls" arrived in the city, in many cases to remain, to build new lives and careers while contributing to the war effort. The influx of new residents
strained the city's housing resources as the city's historic townhouses took in new residents and new structures were constructed in haste. There is room in the book for some embarassing moments, as Williams presents a photograph of patrons of a brothel arrested in a raid and carried away in a paddywagon in 1942. (The brothel kept a list of its distinguished patrons which has never been released. Some things don't change.)

The most impressive portion of the book is its final chapter "VE. VJDay, and the War's Aftermath." This chapter includes photographs of people celebrating the end of the War in Europe and the end of the War with the surrender of Japan. There are scenes of large, joyous crowds, and more intimate photographs of smaller groups of people celebrating the American victory and the return of peace. This book left me with an overriding impression of how Americans of all ages and economic levels, of all races, and of both genders, were able to put aside their differences and unite under the most stressful times to work for the good of our country. The end of the War, with the celebrations and expressions of thanks that ensued, showed how our country can come together and celebrate its shared values in its diversity. This book illustrates an inspiring period of our Nation's history, at both a national and a local level. It has much to teach us today.

Robin Friedman

We got this book before we went to D.C., but did not have time to complete the activities in it until we were on the road home. Turns out, we saw a bunch of stuff that wasn't in there and missed at least half of the sights in the book (not that we regret it). It was crowded and crazy in the Museum of Natural History, so we didn't have the time to linger and notice all the things that they asked about, so even that part kind of missed the mark. It would have been better if I'd had my 9 year old preview the questions before we went out every day. It's a good way to get upper elementary to junior high kids to go a little further into what they see, instead of just getting impatient about when's the next snack. Too bad we didn't use it that way...

We just returned from a 3-day whirlwind tour of DC with our 14- and 11-year-old kids. This book was a hit with both of them--especially the 14-year-old. The night before we began touring, they huddled together and read up on what we'd be seeing. The book gives quick, concise background info on many of the sites and then has a series of questions to answer or objects to search for at many popular DC sites. At most museums, and even monuments, the kids were on a little scavenger hunt to find all of the answers. This little book sustained their enthusiasm all day long, and they thoroughly enjoyed educating Mom and Dad on various facts they'd learned from reading the text. We even changed our itinerary to include the Nat'l Museum of the American Indian (a real gem) because of this book. The only thing I'd do differently next time is buy a book for each kid.

Recently I was planning a trip to Washington with my wife and seven year old son. I was looking for a book that would teach me a bit about D.C. so I could seem like I knew what I was talking about when my son asked me about this monument and that historical event. In my search, I came across Elizabeth Skinner's "We're There! Washington, D.C." and thought it would be a good way for my son to mix fun with learning. And it was! This book is engaging, educational, and fun. My son would not put it down and made sure he had it in his hand wherever we went. What a great find! I notice that Ms. Skinner has written similar books for New York, Boston, and Rhode Island and when I visit those places with my son, I will definitely get them. If Ms. Skinner reads this review, I just want to say great job! And thank you.

This fascinating history of a DC landmark establishment gives one a true picture of the "Black Broadway" on U Street and how it has evolved over the years. A MUST for DC history buffs.

On August 22, 2008, an unlikely Washington D.C. Landmark, Ben's Chili Bowl, will celebrate its fiftieth year in business at 1213 U. Street N.W. in the Shaw area of Washington, D.C. Ben's -- or the Bowl -- is famous for its chili, made to a secret formula -- which is spread liberally on its hot dogs and half smokes, and served frequently with cheese fries and shakes. Bens will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with a concert at the Lincoln Theater on August 21 and a street festival on August 22. I had a chili dog and more cheese fries than I could eat during my most recent visit to the Bowl a couple of weeks ago.

The Bowl is located in the building which once housed the Minnehaha Theater, the first silent movie theater in Washington, D.C., and it is adjacent to the Lincoln Theater, itself a landmark of African American culture in Washington, D.C. for many years and recently restored. The interior of the Bowl -- with its stainless steel counter, its counter seats, tables, and large back room -- all of which have remained in use since the restaurant's opening -- are familiar to generations of Washingtonians. The Bowl has flourished through change and adversity. The owners recently purchased the adjacent property, which had been run-down and abandoned for many years, and will convert it into a bar with a theme similar to the restaurant. Ben's Chili Bowl also has opened two facilities at the new Washington Nationals baseball stadium.

As part of the fifty-year celebration, the Images of America Series has released this new book, "Ben's Chili Bowl: 50 Years of a Washington, D.C., Landmark," which consists of a pictorial history of the Bowl, its owners, its patrons, and its community over the past 50 years. Tracey Gould Bennett, a D.C. journalist and historian wrote the book with assistance from Nizam Ali, who now operates the Bowl with his brother, Kamal. Bill Cosby wrote the Foreward to the volume. Cosby is the Bowl's most famous patron, and, a sign inside the restaurant announces, is the only person who eats in the Bowl for free.

The book, as it must, also celebrates the past 50 year history of the U Street community of which Ben's Chili Bowl is a part. When the Bowl opened in 1958, the U Street corridor was the home of a thriving African American music and entertainment district in a still segregated Washington, D.C. In 1968, with the riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr the U Street corridor was decimated. Ben's Chili Bowl remained open. It was allowed to stay open after the curfew and served both the police and firemen sent to control the riots and the members of the Stokley Carmichael's Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee which was headquartered across the street. In 1987, with the advent of construction for the Shaw Metro stop, business was reduced to a trickle as there was limited access to U Street. Ben's Chili Bowl remained open through a lean five years, usually with a staff of two. With the revitalization of U Street following the opening of the Metro and the recognition the Bowl has received, Ben's Chili Bowl is thriving as never before.

The opening chapter of Bennett's book shows photographs of U Street and the Bowl during the days of the late 1950s. Much of the book focuses on the Ali family which has operated the Bowl since its inception. Ben Ali, a West Indian immigrant from Trinidad, and his fiance Virginia Rollins, an African American from Chance, Virginia (100 miles south of Washington,D.C.) opened the Bowl with a $5,000 bank loan in 1958 and married in the face of laws then on the books prohibiting interracial marriages. They operated the Bowl until 2007 and then turned management of the business over to two of their sons, Nizam and Kamal who operate it today. The Ali family and its story figures prominently in this book.

Subsequent chapters of the book describe the famous patrons of the Bowl, from D.C. go-go singer Chuck Brown, to tennis star Serena Williams, to academic Cornel West, to Senator and presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, with innumerable celebrities in between. The Bowl's back room also has hosted political meetings of every stripe, from Congressional Republicans, who meet at the Bowl monthly, to the local D.C. Government, to many community activist groups. These meetings are documented in Bennett's book. But the most moving sections of the book are those which show the many everyday people of all races and walks of life who have patronized the Bowl regularly over the years. There is also an excellent gallery of photographs of employees of Ben's Chili Bowl -- some of whom have been with the Ali's for 30 years -- past and present.

From its simple origins, Ben's Chili Bowl has become a beloved and familiar part of Washington D.C. life with its chili-laced dogs, down-home atmosphere, African American heritage, and openness to pluralism. Ben's deserves to be celebrated on its 50th anniversary. I enjoyed recollecting the times I have had at the Bowl in reading this book.

Robin Friedman

Best Addresses surprised me. It's much larger than I expected, and extremely handsome in its own right. James Goode is so passionate about these apartment houses, and writes eloquently about not only the buildings, but the people who lived there. I found myself in tears when I came across an especially beautiful building, with exquisite architectural details, only to read the caption 'STATUS: opened as rental 1903; razed 1958.'

The 1950s were cruel times for ornate architecture, but thankfully buildings such as 2101 Connecticut Avenue, The Wyoming, and The Dresden still live on. My favourite chapter is about 2101 Connecticut Avenue, because there is so much information about its conception, right through to the present day, and there are a lot of clear photographs as well as a floor plan.

This book has been well researched, with many interior photographs, as well as the exquisite exteriors, even of buildings which no longer stand, or which have been hideously converted into condos. Even the gracious public dining rooms of the grander buildings have now disappeared, also converted into apartments. Only a few remain in their original state (such as the Westchester), harking back to a more gracious era, when people dressed for dinner!

There are many reasons why this magnificent book quickly became the favourite of my collection.

As a realtor, this book is immensely useful in garnering the history of some of these cherished buildings. As an adopted Washingtonian and architecture buff, the details included in the book are hard to find elsewhere. The writing style is inviting and accessible. Long out of print, it is great to have ready access to this valuable tomb again. Fifth star withheld solely for the fact that I hoped an expanded update section for up and coming buildings or new neighborhoods would have been included in the reissue.

This map is extremely comprehensive. One side covers all major and minor roads in the Annapolis, D.C. Fredrick, and Virginia area and highlights roads that are very good for biking (large shoulders, smooth pavement). The other side has D.C. and there is still one more blowup of the heart of downtown. It is very detailed, has all roads clearly labeled, and shows the good bike paths, trails, and designated roads and bikeways in the city. If you want a map of D.C. for anything related to driving or biking, or looking for metros stops, this is the map to get. It is well worth the price ($9).

This is a big clear map. The only downside is that at times it's a little TOO big. The map covers a lot of area outside of DC proper and makes it occasionally difficult to pinpoint exact locations if you only care about the more central areas of DC.

Great images of Capitol Hill; I've never seen many of these before, gleaned from many provate collections.

For most Americans, "Capitol Hill" is synonymous with Congress. But Capitol Hill is also a large neighborhood in Washington D.C. extending east behind the Capitol to the Anacostia River. Capitol Hill has a long history, and in 1976 Congress declared much of the neighborhood a Historic District.

I have memories of Capitol Hill because I rented a basement apartment and then a somewhat larger unit in a house near Lincoln Park on East Capitol Street in the mid-1970s. Shortly thereafter, I bought my first home in a much more adventurous section of "the Hill" -- as its residents know it -- in an area near 12th and I Steet S.E. close to a housing development. I moved away from the Hill many years ago but continue to live in Washington D.C.

I have been exploring several of the volumes of photographs of American neighborhoods in the "Images of America" series published by Arcadia Press, and I was eager to read this 2004 volume "Capitol Hiill" by Paul Williams and Gregory Alexander. Williams own a historic preservation firm in Washington D.C and has written several volumes on the city for the Images of America series. Alexander is an associate in his firm. This book tries to capture something of the story of Capitol Hill from its origins in the late Eighteenth Century up to the present day. As the authors recognize, this is a daunting task in a short book of photographs. Their book constitutes a good overview of the Hill, but those familiar with the area will probably find, as I did, that it leaves much unsaid.

In five chapters, Williams and Alexander offer photos and annotations of 1. early development on Capitol Hill, 2. the military presence exercised by the old Navy Yard, which was once an important manufacturing center for munitions, and the Marine Barracks, 3.the churches, hospitals, and businesses that have always been an integral feature of life on the Hill,4. community life over the years, and 5. transportation, as exemplified by Union Station which, as does the Capitol, stands basically at the entrance to the Hill.

The book captures well many of the old Victorian townhouses for which Capitol Hill is famous. It also offers a good historical view, showing many of the old mansions which graced Capitol Hill in its early, less urbanized days. Williams and Alexander offer photos of some interesting historical landmarks, such as a house in which Frederick Douglass lived (before moving late in life to his home in the Anacostia section of Washington D.C),the boarding house, long since destroyed, in which Abraham Lincoln lived during his only term in Congress, a music conservatory that operated in the late 1940s and 1950s called the "Washington Junior College of Music and Education", old chain stores, such as the "White Coffee Pot" which advertised "good food, moderate prices, quick service, and clean surroundings", and the old streetcar barn on 14th and East Capitol Street which has been converted to pricey condominiums.

William and Alexander describe how the Hill was initally occupied by a diverse group of residents, experienced a downturn in the 1960s, and was revitalized when many people returned to the area and restored the old homes in the late 1970s and 1980s. This was the time in which I lived on the Hill.

I found that the book made Capitol Hill more staid than it is or that, I suspect, it was. There may be too much emphasis on government buildings and institutions in the area and too little to the people, businesses, and small communities that gave the area character. Some of the best photos in the book are of the notorious alley slums that existed side-by-side with the Victorian homes through the early part of the Twentieth Century (pp 88-91) I would have liked more about these areas and what became of them. (Most of these alleys have been restored and "gentrified".) The book could have paid more attention to Eastern Market, a famous outdoor market that has served the city since the 1870s. For many years, it has been a lively meeting place on the Hill, with its flea markets, quaint shops, and live produce. After this book was written, a fire gutted much of Eastern Market in April, 2007. It was quickly rebuilt. Similarly the book gives too little attention to the changing character of the commercial thoroughfares on the Hill -- the area of Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. and the several blocks of shops and clubs that extend from 8th and Pennsylvania to the Marine Barracks. These areas are important to understanding life on Capitol Hill. Lincoln Park gets no attention in this book, even though it is a community landmark and the site of a famous statue, paid for by newly-freed African Americans, commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation. Frederick Douglass was the featured speaker at the dedication of the statue, in a ceremony attended by President Grant, among many other people.

Capitol Hill is today an expensive residential area in Washington, but it still hosts a diverse community, many young people who work in Congress and elsewhere, and a free-spirited, lively urban atmosphere. Williams and Alexander provide a good introduction, but they do not capture all of the elan of Washington D.C's Capitol Hill.

Robin Friedman

This debut YA novel takes the classic fish-out-water setup and applies it to a good Jewish kid from suburban Philadelphia. After getting into some minor trouble with friends, Ethan Oppenheimer is suspended from school. His timing is bad though -- his parents are in the midst of a separation, his mother can't cope with anything, and so she dumps him with his grandparents in Washington, D.C. The real kicker is that it's not just for the holiday break... Unbeknownst to him, Ethan is supposed to finish the school year at a public high school in D.C. where he'd be the only white kid!

This setup (more or less the opposite of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air") allows the story to explore plenty of social and political issues from the perspective of a middle-class white kid (ie. pretty much the target audience for most YA fiction). Ethan is confronted for the first time with issues of race (both the experience of being a minority, and the tensions between his black and Latino classmates), class (the relative poverty of his classmates, and the spendthriftiness of his grandparents), friendship (none of his friends from back home try to reach him, and figuring out how to make friends in DC is tough) and family (his sense of isolation from his sister who's in college, his dad who never calls, and his mother who calls seemingly against her will). These issues arise organically out of the story and never feel contrived, which is quite an accomplishment.

The book has a few minor flaws, for example one reason for Ethan's feeling of isolation is lack of internet access, however that could have been easily resolved by a trip to any public library, something Ethan would definitely had known. A subplot involving Washington's history during the civil rights era and Ethan's family doesn't lead to much of anything. And I felt that Ethan's experience as being the only white kid in a D.C. public school was probably much easier than it would be in reality. But these are relatively minor quibbles about a book that would be excellent for a teen or middle-school book/discussion group.

In general, the book feels wholly authentic, probably because the author taught in a junior high school in Washington, D.C. and has parents not unlike Ethan's grandparents! It's also to be commended for avoiding the kind of neat, tidy ending common to YA novels. Readers will face a little ambiguity at the end and not everything is spelled out, which might be frustrating to some, but feels true to life. Some answers can be found in "Ethan's" MySpace page where he blogs about what happens after the book ends...

The world needs more books like Ethan Suspended, where today's real kids wrestle with today's real problems. After a series of unfortunate events in his suburban middle school, Ethan is left hanging, high and dry, in his grandparents' neighborhood of Washington, D. C. Like an immigrant from another planet, he has to adapt to survive. Some kids might try to blend in. Ethan knows that's not an option. Instead he becomes a standout as the first ever jazz oboist at Parker Middle School. Ehrenberg unflinchingly lays bare the challenges that middle school kids face every day. Ethan, Sherita, Daron, Felix, Diego - each is a real ordinary kid who might be just like the kid sitting next to you on the bus. Each has a story worth telling. This story will give kids plenty to talk about as they compare the people and problems in the book to people and problems they encounter every day. Readers who like Ethan Suspended might also enjoy Danger, Long Division where another real kid growing up in the shadow of our nation's capital struggles with school problems and absent parents. Also, coming soon, Finch Goes Wild tells the adventures of another middle school musician just across the river from Ethan's neighborhood.

This covers all the bases (and maybe one too many for a family reference)if you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C. I love the itineraries that they have detailed out in the book.

This is another in a fine series by Fodor's Travel Publications. As always, any publication is going to be out-of-date the instant that it appears, given the coming and going of restaurants, clubs, and so on. Nonetheless, this is a very helpful volume.

The map that comes with the book is fairly helpful, although it only covers a rather limited portion of D. C. There are some restaurants and hotels that I would include were I to try such a compilation. However, such reservations are pretty small potatoes and don't detract from the value of the work.

Want to know where to stay? Nice descriptions of hotels in various parts of the city are useful. Just so, a compilation of restaurants. There are a lot of choices provided, including a variety of cuisines.

Then, the little things. Where to shop? Want pens? Go to Fahrney's on F Street NW. Small space, but a great ambience and some nice pens. Newspaper clippings and autographs add a quirky but pleasant touch. In the DuPont Circle area and would like to go peruse bookstores? Karmerbooks & Afterwards on Connecticut Avenue is fun indeed. Even better, from my experience, is Second Story Books on DuPont Circle.

A nice feature is coverage of Mount Vernon, Annapolis, Alexandria, and neighboring areas.

Thinking of going to Washington, D. C. for a weekend or for a week? Take Fodor's with you to enhance the experience.