| Historical Photo Archives
In the summer of 2005, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) began an ambitious project to identify, consolidate, restore and catalog an archival collection of historical documents, materials, photographs, and artifacts. These items document the long and rich history of DDOT related activities over the past 125 years and will eventually be made available for employees, residents, historians, and scholars for study, research, documentation, and for downloading of web based historical images.
Processing, preservation and cataloging of the collection has begun, and periodic updates of the catalog will appear on this site. While the collection is not currently available to outside researchers, digital images will be posted as the originals are scanned, cataloged, and archived. It is estimated that the photographic collection alone contains more than 25,000 images. They depict detailed bridge construction projects, road widening, paving, street pattern changes, tunnels, historic lighting, traffic, streetcars, trolleys, and other DDOT related activities, often with buildings and houses in the images that are under construction or have long since been razed. The photographic collection will offer researchers a bevy of newly discovered, rich historical documentation.
Other items in the collection that are being processed include original blueprints for bridges and construction projects, drawings, plans, photo negatives, and samples of historic railings, poles, light bases, signs, decorative artifacts, daily construction diaries, inspectors notes, and historic survey equipment. These items will eventually be on display in public areas of DDOT offices.
The historic photographs available here are a sample of the variety and scope of the collection, along with information found on each image. Clicking the thumbnail picture will reveal detailed information on the image, and it will bring you a larger version that may be downloaded at no cost.
District residents interested in more information or interested in contributing information on this project should contact William P. Carr at williamp.carr@dc.gov or (202) 671-1371.
For more historical photos, see either the Streetcars in DC page or the 14th Street Bridge page. |
