Washington D.C.: Views of the Past & Present

The first in the "Views of Past and Present" series of books by George Ross Jezek not set in California, the photographer discovered, when he explored the capital, that Washington D.C. has a history of constant change.

When George Washington selected the site for the new capital, included in the Constitution, it was all in private hands. Some were old family lands; others were new acquisitions, purchased in anticipation of the government's move to the new capital in 1800, mandated by Congress.

Washington hired Peter Charles L'Enfant, who laid out a city much larger than many envisioned. Farms turned into city squares. Speculators built townhouses and opened businesses. The first representatives of what became a large diplomatic community also arrived in the fledgling capital.

Its earliest settlements, developed around the Capitol and the White House, have seen some of the greatest changes in the city's existence. It almost failed to survive. In 1814 it was invaded by British troops who burned government buildings. Congress nearly moved the capital back to Philadelphia. The Civil War took a toll on the condition of the city. A public improvements program took place in the 1870s which, although costly, finally made the National Capital an attractive place to live.

Population grew steadily until the mid-20th century when it began to lose residents to the suburbs. About the same time, the historic preservation movement gave protection to the city's landmarks and neighborhoods. Change continued, at a slower pace. Washington, its population on the rise again and as always a mix of local, national and international interests, is thriving and showing many signs of positive change in the 21st century, its third as the National Capital.

George Ross Jezek, a native and resident of San Diego, California, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooks Institute of Photographs in Santa Barbara. He worked in Los Angeles for a variety of commercial clients.

He published his first book, San Diego: Views of the Past and Present, in 2000, looking at changes beginning with the days of Spanish explorers. His second, Hollywood: Views of the Past and Present (2002), looks at that city's exciting past. The next Orange County: Views of the Past and Present (2003), explores the area between San Diego and Los Angeles, from its foothills to coastal cliffs. The fourth book was published in 2004,Los Angeles: Views of the Past and Present explores its growth from its Spanish Mission days to becoming the second largest city in America. In 2006 he revised San Diego: Views of the Past and Present, focusing on changes of the intervening six years and its ever-changing downtown skyline. His sixth California book, San Francisco: Views of the Past and Present looks at that city from Ocean Beach to the Great Highway, its early fishing fleets and the devastating earthquakes and fires that have plagued the City on the Bay. His seventh book, Washington D.C.: Views of the Past and Present, shows the progression of the changes that took place during the history of a small city that became the capital of what was then a relatively small country--a country that became, during the ensuing years, the most powerful country on earth. Home to many politicians, world-renowned museums, and fine universities, inside the beltway, as they say, is a grand place to visit or reside. Washington D.C.: Views of the Past and Present will be the last book in this series for George
Ross Jezek. He will be exploring and developing ideas for photographic/video museum shows depicting centuries old traditions that are still practiced today.

Lucinda Prout Janke is a long-time resident of the Capital Hill Historic District in Washington, D.C. A graduate of Wellesley College, she holds a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from The George Washington University. Now an idependent historian, she was formerly Curator of the Kiplinger Washington Collection and Collections Manager at the City Museum of The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. She has served on the boards of a number of nonprofit organizations including The Historical Society, Congressional Cemetery and the local chapter of the Victorian Society. She has given numerous lectures and tours and written articles including with Ruth Ann Overbeck, <William Prout, Capitol Hill's Community Builder.