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Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC

A History

Kim Prothro Williams

$62.99

Hardback

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English
Georgetown University Press
01 November 2023
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.

By:  
Imprint:   Georgetown University Press
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 203mm,  Width: 203mm,  Spine: 21mm
Weight:   544g
ISBN:   9781647123925
ISBN 10:   1647123925
Pages:   172
Publication Date:  
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active

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).

Reviews for Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC: A History

A unique blending of architectural and social history of Washington DC's multifaceted alleyways, Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC: A History is essential reading and an informative history for students, academicians, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Washington's social history, architecture, or historical preservation. * Midwest Book Review *


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