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Seventh Street NW
 German Roots in Washington

  • A fire insurance company at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue. Image credit: Goethe-Institut Washington/William Gilcher

    A fire insurance company at 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue.

  • 'Man Controlling Trade,' two sculptures of horses restrained by men. Designed in the late 1930's by American artist Michael Lantz (1908-1988) and completed in 1942, this sculpture is located in front of the Federal Trade Commission on 6th Street between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, N.W. (Pennsylvania Avenue side). The stonecutter was Jakob Schwalb, president of the Washington Sängerbund from 1936 to 1937 and 1946 to 1951. Image credit: Goethe-Institut Washington/William Gilcher

    'Man Controlling Trade,' two sculptures of horses restrained by men. Designed in the late 1930's by American artist Michael Lantz (1908-1988) and completed in 1942, this sculpture is located in front of the Federal Trade Commission on 6th Street between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, N.W. (Pennsylvania Avenue side). The stonecutter was Jakob Schwalb, president of the Washington Sängerbund from 1936 to 1937 and 1946 to 1951.

  • 7th Street NW, looking north from Pennsylvania Avenue, 1935. With its busy street car lines and heavy automobile traffic, the commercial life of 7th Street is still very evident in this pre-suburban, pre-war, and pre-shopping center era. In the distance, the dome of the then future, now former Marlo’s Furniture Store gleams in the sun at the corner of 7th and I Streets. Image credit: From the Collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

    7th Street NW, looking north from Pennsylvania Avenue, 1935. With its busy street car lines and heavy automobile traffic, the commercial life of 7th Street is still very evident in this pre-suburban, pre-war, and pre-shopping center era. In the distance, the dome of the then future, now former Marlo’s Furniture Store gleams in the sun at the corner of 7th and I Streets.

  • Engraving, 1875. Fashionable ladies and gentlemen seem unperturbed by the traffic bearing down on them in this engraving signed by 'Kilburn.' Crowds of people swarm under the shop awnings, richly marked with commercial signs, while an American flag proudly waves overhead. This shopping street is Busy, Modern, yet Elegant and Sophisticated. Image Credit: From the Collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

    Engraving, 1875. Fashionable ladies and gentlemen seem unperturbed by the traffic bearing down on them in this engraving signed by 'Kilburn.' Crowds of people swarm under the shop awnings, richly marked with commercial signs, while an American flag proudly waves overhead. This shopping street is Busy, Modern, yet Elegant and Sophisticated.

  • 7th Street, east side, decorated for President James Garfield’s inauguration, March 4, 1881. The Washington Sängerbund was part of the parade for this occasion. Unlike the 1875 engraving, this photograph conveys a less elegant, more gritty impression of life on 7th Street. The hurly-burly reality of this commercial streetscape comes through vividly—and realistically. On July 2, 1881, four months after this picture was taken, President Garfield was shot by a deranged office-seeker at the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station, then situated where the National Gallery of Art’s West Building now stands. Garfield died of his wounds on September 19. Image credit: From the Collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

    7th Street, east side, decorated for President James Garfield’s inauguration, March 4, 1881. The Washington Sängerbund was part of the parade for this occasion. Unlike the 1875 engraving, this photograph conveys a less elegant, more gritty impression of life on 7th Street. The hurly-burly reality of this commercial streetscape comes through vividly—and realistically. On July 2, 1881, four months after this picture was taken, President Garfield was shot by a deranged office-seeker at the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station, then situated where the National Gallery of Art’s West Building now stands. Garfield died of his wounds on September 19.

  • Flood, 200 block of 7th Street NW, 1889, looking south toward the Mall. Floods don’t stop these carriages and the men and boys in the picture seem to be having a fine time watching and listening to the horses charge through the water. Center Market can be seen on the right. Image credit: From the Collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

    Flood, 200 block of 7th Street NW, 1889, looking south toward the Mall. Floods don’t stop these carriages and the men and boys in the picture seem to be having a fine time watching and listening to the horses charge through the water. Center Market can be seen on the right.

The corner of Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW has always been an intersection of government and commerce in the District of Columbia. Americans of all ethnic backgrounds converged at this location in the heart of the city. This stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue leads from the White House east to the Capitol building. Heading north, Seventh Street was traditionally home to countless businesses. Further north, it becomes Georgia Avenue (once called "Seventh Street Road")  and takes the visitor to the Maryland suburbs. This section of our virtual tour introduces you to this commercial cityscape starting at Pennsylvania Avenue and heading north to Mount Vernon Square.
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