U.S. Navy Department

[Mark F. Jenkins]

(From the photostream of the photographic curator of the National Museum of the U.S. Navy)

This is the building where Gideon Welles and Gustavus Fox worked-- actually, as the photo was taken between 1867 and 1869, it was where Welles still worked (he continued as Secretary of the Navy under Johnson): the old Navy Department building on 17th Street between F and G. (Half of a stereo pair, according to the photostream note.)

 

[Seduzal]

Wow, great picture. But noticed one other thing about this photo; horse drawn streetcar.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[donna]

Nice photo. Do like the horse drawn street cars.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

The one on the right is labeled "CAPITOL WAR NAVY DEPARTMENT," which I'm guessing is its usual route, like a circulator bus. (Or perhaps I have that backwards. A circulator bus might be like a circulator horse-drawn streetcar...)

 

[jackt62]

When were those street cars first introduced in DC? Was it during or after the war?

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Looks like "during"... found this:

"On May 17, 1862 Congress granted a charter to the Washington & Georgetown Railroad Company to operate Washington's first horse-drawn streetcar. Rails were laid down Pennsylvania Avenue and service from the State Department to the Capitol commenced in July with nine streetcars. By October 1862, the streetcar ran from M and Wisconsin in Georgetown to the Navy Yard. The fare was less than five cents.The route traveled along M Street in Georgetown, then east along Pennsylvania Avenue past the Capitol, and then headed south on 8th Street, SE to the Navy Yard. "
​

source: http://civilwarwashingtondc1861-1865.blogspot.com/2011/06/mass-transit-in-washington-1862-style.html

Aha-- that article also includes the photo I posted in OP, as well as a photo from the Grand Review clearly showing streetcar tracks.

 

[rebelatsea]

Horse drawn street cars ,or trams over here, are a long neglected subject. Good to see a picture of them at an early date.