Built When? By Whom?
HistoryQuestDC
Start here! This interactive map gives you what municipal records show about your house: when first built, by whom, the architect, and even the estimated cost in original dollars. Just type your address in the search box. Do note that if the original residence on your lot was torn down and rebuilt since, the information is only for the most recently built structure.
Architects
About 15 architects were the most prolific builders and designers on Capitol Hill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can find brief biographies of them here.
For Your Research
Looking further and digging deeper? Links to useful resources for additional research are here.
Historical Vignettes
Various neighborhoods, blocks, and individual houses have sometimes been researched and written up. The collection is not complete—but it’s a good start on learning more about Capitol Hill architectural and social history.
Streetscape Spaces
Text and illustrations from a paper by Nancy Metzger delineating, describing and documenting spaces surrounding buildings in the Capitol Hill Historic District. Download complete paper, which maintains the original formatting.