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Welcome to H-DC, Washington, D.C. History and Life, a member of H-Net Humanities & Social Sciences Online. H-DC, a refereed, multi- and inter-disciplinary digital network, provides a means of communication and interaction for those who research, write, read, teach, collect, curate, and preserve Washington, DC history and culture and for those who work in cultural institutions located within DC, regardless of discipline.

Recent Content

True Beginnings of Memorial Day — Decoration Day, 1869, Washington DC

Matthew Gilmore

May 2026

True Beginnings of Memorial Day — Decoration Day, 1869, Washington DC

Civil War Unknowns Memorial

The Grand Army of the Republic, in 1868, inaugurated the tradition which would ultimately lead to our modern Memorial Day holiday.

Headquarters Grand Army of the Republic,
Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868.
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 11

I. The 30th day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion

Notice of Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting -- Next HPRB meeting scheduled for May 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Notice of Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting

Next HPRB meeting scheduled for May 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM

Posted May 4, 2026

This notice is the official monthly announcement by the District of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Office (HPO) of pending matters related to preservation planning, designation of historic landmarks and historic districts, and project reviews before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The following projects have been submitted and may be viewed on the Office of Planning website.

Informational Presentations

Archeological Guidelines Update

Historic Designation

The Overbeck Lecture Series Presents Samplers, Students, and Sailmakers: A Portrait of Federal-Era Capitol Hill -- Alden O'Brien -- Monday, May 4, 2026 7:00 pm

Washington Navy Yard, c 1862. Naval History and Heritage Command

1818 Map of Washington by Robert King and C. Schwartz and 1813 sampler by Julia Ann Crowley

The Overbeck Lecture Series Presents

Samplers, Students, and Sailmakers: A Portrait

of Federal-Era Capitol Hill

Alden O'Brien

Monday, May 4, 2026 7:00 pm

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital

921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE 20003

Federal-era Capitol Hill has left few markers on our cityscape and few artifacts survive to tell its tale. Surprisingly, a special group of textiles (usually ephemeral) created by girls (often invisible in records and histories) offers the best jumping-off point for painting a

Bringing Federal History to the Public During America's 250th Anniversary -- Society for History in the Federal Government -- 2026 Annual Meeting May 14-15, 2026

https://shfg.wildapricot.org/event-6507473

2026 SHFG Annual Meeting

Thursday, May 14, 2026
8:00 AM
Friday, May 15, 2026
5:00 PM
Location
Library of Congress, James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave, SE, Washington DC

Registration

Award Winners
Early Bird- Member Rate – $65.00
Valid until May 1, 2026
Early Bird- non-Member Rate – $100.00
Institutional Member Registration – $65.00
For groups with an organizational institutional membership (code required)
Non-Member Student – $45.00
Non-Members – $150.00
SHFG Members – $85.00
SHFG Student Members – $35.00
Special Unemployed Fed Rate

Bringing Federal