About Washington Chronicles
Washington Chronicles is a collection of articles I have written over the years, as well home to new articles as they become available. Be sure to check back periodically, as articles may be updated with additional information and photos as time allows.
My
primary interest has always been architectural history, but there is
much more to the story of any building beyond when it was constructed,
its style, who the architect was, etc. These stories often include class struggles, economic development, politics, and most interestingly, the
personalities of those involved. I try to incorporate all these aspects
in my research as much as possible, making for a more comprehensive,
and hopefully, a fun read as well.
About the Author
Stephen Hansen is a longtime resident of Washington, D.C. He is an
architectural historian, a historic preservation specialist, and an
author. Stephen was the first writer of the monthly column What Once Was in Washington, DC for The Intowner Newspaper. He is the author of the books A History of Dupont Circle: Center of High Society in the Capital and Kalorama Triangle: The History of a Capital Neighborhood published by The History Press in 2011 (see below). Contact: washingtonchroniclesdc@gmail.com
Books by Stephen Hansen
A History of Dupont Circle: Center of High Society in the Capital
Discover
the remarkable history of Washington, DC's famed Dupont Circle
neighborhood with author and historian Stephen A. Hansen.
"As Stephen A. Hansen writes in his definitive A History of Dupont Circle: Center of High Society in the Capital,
the wealthy flocked to Washington to build their grand homes in the
Dupont Circle environs and built them and built them until there was no
land left."
"...the definitive social history of Dupont Circle for the indefinite future."
During
the Gilded Age, Dupont Circle was Washington's undisputed center of
wealth, power and status. Over twenty years, it evolved from small farms
and an overrun city cemetery to a community of grand homes for
society's elite. Residents included future presidents Theodore Roosevelt
and William Howard Taft, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, newspaper
publisher Cissy Patterson and many more. From the intimate dinners and
receptions of the Cave Dwellers to the lavish balls of Mary Townsend and
others in the "smart set," Dupont Circle marked each social season in
the capital. Satirized in Mark Twain's novel The Gilded Age, the nouveau
riche lifestyle of Dupont Circle was fodder for newspaper celebrity
gossip. Author Stephen Hansen brings to life the intriguing history of
Washington's famed Dupont Circle.
Published
by History Press, London and Charleston, 2014. Pages: 224. Over 100 photos. List price: $21.99. Formats:
Paperback, hardcover, and ebook (Kindle, Nook, and iBooks).
Kalorama Triangle: The History of a Capital Neighborhood
Kalorama
is Greek for beautiful view, and it was the vista that drew wealthy
colonists to set their farms and manor homes on the verdant hills above
the capital. With the start of the Civil War, the grand hilltop
residences were turned over to the army to be used as barracks and
hospitals. It was only after the war that the land was developed into
city streets that saw everything from the excesses of the Gilded Age to
the horrors of the 1922 Knickerbocker Theater Disaster. Historian and
longtime resident Stephen A. Hansen charts the evolution of the
neighborhood from its earliest history through the twentieth century as
residents fought to preserve the historic character of Kalorama
Triangle.
Paperback and hardcover: 160 pages. The History Press, 2011.
