Capital Losses: A Cultural History of Washington's Destroyed Buildings

by James M. Goode

"Before the passage of critical preservation legislation in 1978, the Nation's Capital lost an irreplaceable assembly of architecturally and culturally significant buildings. Wanton destruction in the name of progress - particularly in the decades immediately following World War II - resulted in a legacy forever lost, a cultural heritage destroyed by the wrecker's ball." "In originally documenting 252 of these historic losses, the publication of Capital Losses a quarter century ago created a clarion call for preservationists. By reminding us of things lost, James Goode's magisterial and poignant study represented a comprehensive call for action, a mandate for responsible stewardship of the architectural legacy of Washington, D.C. In the decades since, rising public awareness and the passage of the Historic District and Historic Landmark Protection Act in 1978 have slowed the pace of thoughtless destruction. But as this completely new and updated edition of Capital Losses demonstrates, vigilance remains the watchword, especially as pressures for urban growth continue to intensify." "Capital Losses reveals the Washington that was and how it became what it is today. This updated edition includes eighteen more treasures lost - among them Rhodes Tavern and Valley View - and ninety additional historic photographs. The 270 buildings featured here range from the earliest Georgian plantation house to the latest art deco commercial structure and include private houses, hotels, apartment houses, office and government buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and fire stations." Both the familiar public Washington of official landmarks and the private city of residential neighborhoods are paid tribute in this volume, dedicated to the vanished. A foreword by noted architectural historian Richard Longstreth brings the preservation story up to the present.

Genres: History, Architecture

517 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1979

Reviews

[Sara]

This brick of a coffee table book features buildings of DC that have been cleared away due to disuse or to make way for larger, more modern buildings. However, imbedded throughout the pictures of the grand buildings and historical notes, there is some wonderful disbelief from the author who cannot believe people would dare raze a building such as: "The demolition of Valley View, designed by one of the great American architects of the early twentieth century, indicates the new owner possessed little background, no taste, and little or no artistic sensibilities." Come for the historical architecture, stay for the snark.

[Jennifer]

This book was a beast to get through just from the sheer textbook size of it. Aside from that...seriously fascinating especially for anyone who has lived in DC and loves the city and its history.

[Paul]

Fascinating book about all the things that used to be in D.C before the Federal area was built on the Mall. Forgot that I had read this, until I came across it while looking for a new book of his.