Washington, D.C.

"Seeing Washington. No. 2. Starting point, Home Life Bldg., Cor. 15th & G. Sts., N.W., opposite U.S. Treasury."

For the Vintage Photos Theme Park, a photo from a capital city - photos taken in capital cities around the world . A real photo postcard of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Partial transcription of the handwriting on the back of the card (no address, stamp., or postmark): "Caro Zio, Vi Auguro un Buon Natale e un Buon Anno con la nua famiglia. Albert D. Alona." Google translation: "Dear Uncle, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with your family. Albert D Alona." For a better view of the building and the fellow sitting in front, see the cropped version :

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of iconic landmark/tourist destination . This is an undated snapshot of a somewhat tilted view looking west over the Reflecting Pool toward the Lincoln Memorial from the top of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. I was surprised to see all the buildings located along the left and right sides of the Reflecting Pool, and I discovered that these were "temporary" buildings constructed during World War II . The last of them was torn down in 1971, and Constitution Gardens , the Vietnam Veterans Memorial , and other monuments have taken their place.

A photo of people on rooftops for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. This is a snapshot of "The King" taken from high up in or on top of a building overlooking the streets of an unknown city. A pair of U.S. flags extend across the top of the photo, and something's blocking the view in the lower right-hand corner (but the blurry object provided a handy place to write a caption). Crowds of people have gathered on rooftops, in windows, and along the streets to watch the king go by. He's riding in an open car accompanied by another automobile and two motorcycles with sidecars. Anyone recognize the location? See a cropped version of the photo for a better view of the people watching from the rooftops and windows. Another enlargement provides a close-up of the king's car .

Notice all the people watching the king's car from the roof and windows of the lower building on the left. Crowds have also gathered in front of and on top of the building across the street. See also a close-up of the king's car and the full version of the photo.

An enlargement showing "The King" in his car. See also the full version of the photo.

Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "This is as we looked Monday, July 5th, 1909, after the floral parade. Ed, Edith, Edward, Russell, Hattie, and Otto Zahn." Hand-lettered card attached to the car: "29." Number above the doorway of the building in the background: "1004." I didn't think I'd be able to uncover any information about a "floral parade" held in 1909. As it turned out, however, the Washington Post newspaper sponsored an Independence Day celebration in the form of a "Floral-Flag Automobile Parade" on July 5, 1909, that received widespread coverage. The weekly Horticulture magazine on July 3, 1909, p. 8, for instance, expressed the hope that the event would sell more flowers during a hot summer: "Washington has been sweltering under the most torrid wave that has visited the city in years. Business is quite dull, commencements are over, and even Cupid is enervated by the heat. All the city is agog, though, over the forthcoming automobile and flower parade that will take place on the 5th of July. Autos will be decorated with flags and flowers. The Washington Post offers a first prize of $100 for the handsomest decorated auto. It is to be hoped that this flower parade, at least, will become an annual custom. It will be of inestimable value to the florists, as well as to the flower-loving public." Henry Litchfield West, in an article about "A Safe and Sane Fourth of July" in The Forum , August 1909, p. 108, described some of the parade cars: "The Washington Post conceived the idea of an automobile floral-flag parade, and this event proved to be a genuine spectacular and artistic success. There were over a hundred motor cars in line, and the decorations were extremely novel and pleasing. One automobile was reconstructed into an accurate representation of the Confederate ram Merrimac, and was manned by young men in sailor costumes; another was converted into a yacht with masts and sails; another was a floral boat apparently drawn by an enormous white swan; and still another was in the form of a pergola, decorated with wistaria vines and blossoms. An electric machine which elicited the applause of the thousands who lined the route of parade was apparently a huge wicker basket of pink roses, in the centre of which and surmounted by a canopy of roses was seated the lady who operated the car. Another electric machine was a symphony in red, white and blue. Altogether the event proved to be a most unique and beautiful celebration…." The decorations on this automobile weren't as elaborate (see a cropped version for a closer view), but it's remarkable that with a few details we can find information about a Floral-Flag Automobile Parade held over a century ago.

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

A couple of turkeys arrive at (or depart from?) the United States Capitol Building , Washington, D.C., in this illustration from a Thanksgiving postcard dated 1910. The postcard is addressed on the other side to "Mrs. Geo Hamlin, 9 Dean[e] St., Portland, Me.," and postmarked in New York City on November 23, 1910. Handwritten message: "Rena & Geo out for a ride. Best love to both of you & hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. Kitty." Rena (1882-1974) and George Hamlin (1882-1958) were both twenty-eight years old and had been married for about three years when they received this postcard. It's possible that Kitty, the sender of the card, was Catherine Lewis , Rena's mother. For some other turkey motorists, see Thanksgiving Day Fugitives and A Wingless Steed Will Take the Winner to a Fine Thanksgiving Dinner .

"The White House, Washington. Thank you for writing to me. I am honored to be your 'First Cat.' Socks." An oversized postcard postmarked Washington, D.C., Sept. 28, 1993. When Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001), Hillary was the First Lady and Socks was the First Cat. I wrote to Socks after he became First Cat, and he graciously acknowledged my letter by sending me this postcard. I guess we'll learn who will become the next First Pet on Election Day tomorrow.

"In Washington, D.C., see National Historical Wax Museum. America's finest air-conditioned wax museum. 26th Street at E. N.W., near Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. 9 am to 9 pm, including Sundays. Commander Alan B. Shepard." Cover of a 1960s brochure for the National Historical Wax Museum.

"Wm. T. Baldus, Pa. Ave. & 19th St. English, French, and German prescriptions a specialty. Copyright by James B. Harrison, 1882."