This book traces the history of the development, abandonment, and eventual revival of George Washington's original vision for a grand national capital on the Potomac. 'George Washington's Washington' is not simply a history of the city during the first president's life but a history of his vision for the national capital and of the local and national conflicts surrounding this vision's acceptance and implementation.

Incorporating more than 3,000 illustrations, Kornwolf's work conveys the full range of the colonial encounter with the continent's geography, from the high forms of architecture through formal landscape design and town planning. From these pages emerge the fine arts of environmental design, an understanding of the political and economic events that helped to determine settlement in North America, an appreciation of the various architectural and landscape forms that the settlers created, and an awareness of the diversity of the continent's geography and its peoples. Considering the humblest buildings along with the mansions of the wealthy and powerful, public buildings, forts, and churches, Kornwolf captures the true dynamism and diversity of colonial communities - their rivalries and frictions, their outlooks and attitudes - as they extended their hold on the land.

First published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The remarkable architectural and social history of DC’s multifaceted alleyways Alleyways in Washington, DC, have always been a fundamental part of the city’s life and economy. Deliberately hidden from public view by the capital’s early planners, DC’s alleys were created to provide access to stables, carriage houses, and other utility buildings. But as the city grew and property values rose, the nature of some alleys and their buildings changed, resulting in a parallel world of residential , manufacturing, and artistic spaces. Kim Prothro Williams reveals this world in a fascinating and richly illustrated history. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the city’s inhabited alleys were often unsanitary spaces that were home to its poorest residents. These conditions spurred Progressive Era campaigns to demolish alley dwellings, which in turn led to the displacement of minority and disadvantaged communities. Today, many remaining alleyways, with their intimately scaled buildings, have been transformed into vibrant commercial and residential spaces. Yet this new wave of development raises questions about how spaces that were once reserved for the city’s poorest residents now cater to the wealthy. This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in Washington, social history, architecture, or historical preservation.