VISIT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WWII ERA HOME MOVIE WHITE HOUSE CAPITOL BUILDING MALL 58504

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference. Shot by an unknown American tourist, this silent home movie film shows footage of Washington D.C. and notable memorials and museums during WWII era. The film likely dates to about 1944-45, as the Pentagon (finished in 1943) appears in it. The most surprising aspect of this film is the lack of traffic in the nation’s capitol, possibly due to wartime restrictions or due to it being shot during a holiday of some sort, or maybe both. Some portions of the film were shot on Anscochrome film stock that has faded to red, but much of it is in beautiful Kodachrome. It opens with shots of the National Gallery of Art (:12) beginning with a frontal view of the stairs and its massive columns. A close-up shot is provided of the intricate architecture on the columns (:21). Some of the statues resting outside of the art gallery are shown (:22). Two women are seen stopping in front of the fountain constructed outside (:43) and the film brings viewers inside of the National Gallery of Art shortly after (:53). The dome of the Capital building is first caught in the background here (:59). Visitors play tennis on wide green fields (1:10). Two enlisted men are filmed near a man setting up his camera. The photographer is most likely selling souvenir snapshots for the tourists (1:26). The Capitol Building’s dome (1:29) with sailors walking in the foreground (1:31). The buildings of the Library of Congress follow (2:06) as civilians and enlisted men walk up the expanse of stairs (2:30). The United States Supreme Court building is viewed with the words ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ written above it (2:57). A view of DC and the White House from the Washington Monument follows (3:12). The East Lawn of the White House is then seen across the street with black fences guarding it (3:18). A sign is zoomed in on reading ‘short cuts prohibited’ to keep pedestrians off the grass (3:33). Exterior of Union Station (3:40). Colorful parrots are seen near a small brown and gold fountain, location unknown (4:04). An African American newspaper boy sells papers to visitors coming in and out of the museums (4:44). Pedestrians, including some African American women (4:27) cross the street. At (4:49), a U.S. Navy WAVE -- female naval personnel -- buys a newspaper. People are seen stepping from Bell Cabs as other move into Diamond Cabs (5:16). Visitors enjoy sweet treats at a small ice cream stand in a park, possibly near the Mall (5:35). Guests pack in around long bench tables for reprise and refreshments (5:50). A friendly game of baseball is played by military personnel (6:11). The film turns to the Lincoln Memorial (6:26) with visitors including an African American couple heading up the stairs to view the massive statue of Lincoln inside (6:54). Rising at the end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (7:02) is the Washington Monument (7:08). Theodore Roosevelt Gate at Arlington National Cemetery (7:31). A guard is seen passing back and forth in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (8:01) near Arlington cemetery. Lily pads and flowers floating in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool (8:41). The newly built Pentagon (9:01), completed in 1943. Many, many buses sitting outside the Pentagon (9:25). The camera man then hops into a bus and films buildings and pedestrians passing by (9:34). Refreshment stand in the center of the Pentagon (9:44). The dome topped Jefferson Memorial building is viewed encircled by water (9:53). Close up footage (10:20) and footage from within this memorial follows (10:48). The film concludes with images of the Washington Monument in the background (11:12). We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit