Tracing Back the History

Since we moved in June, I've been curious about the history of our house. I saw this post on Urban Turf about researching its history through a trip to the library. I really need to do this someday.

Curious about your home and in the mood to partake in some amateur detective work? The Washingtoniana division at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library has real estate maps, building permits and resident lists going back more than a century for most residential properties in the District. In a couple hours, one can find out when their home was built, see its first appearance on a plat map, identify former owners and residents, look up their occupations, and see if any additions were ever built and when. Last night, Jason Moore, collections librarian for the Washingtoniana division, walked UrbanTurf through the research process.

It's really cool that we live in a place built in 1905 that has stood through so many changes over the decades, from Washington's rise and fall and rise again, to new families moving through those doors, changes in the neighborhood, etc.  The particular Washingtoniana was established in 1905, so you would think the records will be accurate. It would be fun to do this...someday!

I did finally order a bar table for the bar room. Now I need to get stools this weekend! Ten days until our guests arrive!!