The remarkable architectural and social history of DC’s multifaceted alleyways
Alleyways in Washington, DC, have always been a fundamental part of the city’s life and economy. Deliberately hidden from public view by the capital’s early planners, DC’s alleys were created to provide access to stables, carriage houses, and other utility buildings. But as the city grew and property values rose, the nature of some alleys and their buildings changed, resulting in a parallel world of residential , manufacturing, and artistic spaces. Kim Prothro Williams reveals this world in a fascinating and richly illustrated history.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the city’s inhabited alleys were often unsanitary spaces that were home to its poorest residents. These conditions spurred Progressive Era campaigns to demolish alley dwellings, which in turn led to the displacement of minority and disadvantaged communities. Today, many remaining alleyways, with their intimately scaled buildings, have been transformed into vibrant commercial and residential spaces. Yet this new wave of development raises questions about how spaces that were once reserved for the city’s poorest residents now cater to the wealthy.
This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in Washington, social history, architecture, or historical preservation.
Reviews
"In this richly illustrated examination of alley buildings, Williams introduces the reader to public spaces not visible from the streets—the oddly shaped alleys that characterize many Washington blocks. Williams deftly discusses the range of buildings, from dwellings to bakeries, that was particularly suited to such hidden locations."—Alison K. Hoagland, author of The Row House in Washington, DC: A History,
About the Author
Kim Prothro Williams is an architectural historian and National Register coordinator at the DC Historic Preservation Office. She is the author of several books about historic places and communities, including, most recently, Lost Farms and Estates of Washington, DC (2018).
