15th Street looking north ca. 1916

15th Street looking north from 600 block

This view of 15th Street is from the 600 block looking north ca. 1915 and today. The current photograph was taken during a weekday lunch hour.

While the scene looks familiar, most components have changed over the years. There is no longer an active entrance to the Treasury Department from 15th Street, the B.F. Keith theatre has been replaced by the Old Ebbitt Grill, the buildings between G Street and New York Avenue have been completely replaced, and the old National Savings & Trust Co. is now a Sun Trust Bank.

Historic image from the Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress.

Kent Boese posts items of historic interest, primarily within the District. He’s worked in libraries since 1994, both federal and law, and currently works on K Street. He’s been an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner serving the northern Columbia Heights and Park View neighborhoods since 2011 (ANC 1A), and served as the Commission’s Chair since 2013. He has a MS in Design from Arizona State University with strong interests in preservation, planning, and zoning. Kent is also the force behind the blog Park View, DC.