Washington on When It Was is 17 addresses and the 20 businesses that have occupied them, the oldest from 1847. 12 are still open today; 8 are gone, and 1 of the buildings themselves have been demolished. Every entry below opens a page with the full history of that address, and the map lets you slide the year and watch the city change.
Start here
The Occidental
Lincoln Memorial
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
National Air and Space Museum
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
Ben's Chili Bowl
Harvey's Restaurant
Martin's Tavern
Washington, decade by decade
- 1840s
- 1850s
- 1880s
- 1890s
- 1900s
- 1920s
- 1930s
- 1940s
- 1950s
- 1960s
- 1970s
- 1980s
Still here, and gone
Still open (12)
- Round Robin Bar 1847–present
- Willard InterContinental Hotel 1847–present
- Round Robin Bar at Willard Hotel 1847–present
- St. Elizabeths Hospital 1855–present
- Old Ebbitt Grill 1856–present
- The Occidental 1906–present
- Lincoln Memorial 1922–present
- Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument 1929–present
- Martin's Tavern 1933–present
- Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 1943–present
- Ben's Chili Bowl 1958–present
- National Air and Space Museum 1976–present
Gone (8)
- Phase One 1971–2016
- Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House 1962–2011
- Hecht's 1896–2006
- Nob Hill 1957–2004
- Woodward & Lothrop 1880–1995
- 9:30 Club (Original) 1980–1995
- Harvey's Restaurant 1858–1991
- The Furies Collective House 1971–1973
By kind of place
Bar (6)
Round Robin Bar · Round Robin Bar at Willard Hotel · Old Ebbitt Grill · 9:30 Club (Original) · Nob Hill · Phase One
Restaurant (3)
Ben's Chili Bowl · The Occidental · Harvey's Restaurant
Department Store (2)
Residence (2)
Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House · The Furies Collective House
Museum (2)
National Air and Space Museum · Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
Monument (1)
Hotel (1)
Willard InterContinental Hotel
Tavern (1)
Every place in Washington (17)
- 9:30 Club (Original) 930 F Street NW · 1980–1995
- Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument 144 Constitution Avenue NE · 1929–present
- Ben's Chili Bowl 1213 U Street NW · 1958–present
- Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House 5020 Cathedral Avenue NW · 1962–2011
- Harvey's Restaurant 1001 18th Street NW · 1858–1991
- Hecht's 575 7th Street NW · 1896–2006
- Lincoln Memorial 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW · 1922–present
- Martin's Tavern 1264 Wisconsin Avenue NW · 1933–present
- Mary McLeod Bethune Council House 1318 Vermont Avenue NW · 1943–present
- National Air and Space Museum 600 Independence Avenue SW · 1976–present
- Nob Hill 1101 Kenyon Street NW · 1957–2004
- Old Ebbitt Grill 675 15th Street NW · 1856–present
- Phase One 525 8th Street SE · 1971–2016
- St. Elizabeths Hospital 2700 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE · 1855–present
- The Furies Collective House 219 11th Street SE · 1971–1973
- The Occidental 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · 1906–present · 4 businesses
- Woodward & Lothrop 1025 F Street NW · 1880–1995
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