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Looking skyward inside the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C. reveals the architectural heart of the former Old Post Office Pavilion: a vast atrium capped by a steel-and-glass skylight. Spanning multiple stories, this breathtaking space blends industrial innovation with Romanesque design elements—characterized by rounded arches, iron ornamentation, and layered stone and plaster detailing.

Originally completed in 1899, the Old Post Office was designed by Supervising Architect Willoughby J. Edbrooke and featured cutting-edge construction for its time, including a steel internal skeleton that allowed for the open vertical space seen here. The atrium once served a practical purpose—allowing natural light into the mail sorting floors—and has since been preserved as a centerpiece of the building’s adaptive reuse as a luxury hotel.

The photo captures the latticework of the skylight, intersected by iron beams and flanked by repeating columned arcades on all sides. Suspended acoustic panels float below the glass ceiling, subtly modern additions to a historic structure. Decorative ironwork and ornamental capitals around the perimeter reflect the building's 19th-century grandeur.

Today, the atrium functions as a public and private gathering space—dramatic yet peaceful, airy yet grounded in stone and steel. This is one of Washington D.C.'s few remaining Romanesque Revival interiors on such a monumental scale.

HABS Architectural Survey Standard:
Documented according to standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS):

Structure Name: Old Post Office

Location: 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Date of Construction: 1892–1899

Architect: Willoughby J. Edbrooke

HABS Reference Number: DC-275

Once the city’s central post office, this grand Romanesque Revival structure now serves as the Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C.—a luxury hotel steeped in architectural heritage. Built between 1892 and 1899 and located at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, the building was originally the Old Post Office Pavilion and is one of the few late 19th-century federal buildings to survive in the area.

This photograph captures the front portico entrance with its massive central arch, heavy rusticated stone, and richly detailed carvings—all hallmarks of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Architect Willoughby J. Edbrooke designed the structure while serving as Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury, favoring rounded arches, fortress-like massing, and medieval references that evoke strength and permanence.

Above the main entry is a contemporary gold Waldorf Astoria sign, while the flanking arched windows now house the Peacock Alley restaurant and the Waldorf Astoria Spa. These adaptations highlight a thoughtful preservation approach: retaining the building’s historic fabric while accommodating modern luxury.

After narrowly avoiding demolition in the mid-20th century, the Old Post Office was repurposed in the 1980s and underwent another major transformation in the 2010s when it was converted into a hotel. Through each chapter, its architectural integrity has been largely maintained, making it a rare and prominent example of Romanesque civic design in Washington, D.C.

HABS Architectural Survey Standard:
Documented according to standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS):

Structure Name: Old Post Office

Location: 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.

Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Date of Construction: 1892–1899

Architect: Willoughby J. Edbrooke

HABS Reference Number: DC-275

At the golden edge of dusk, the Keegan Theatre’s red-brick façade glows warmly against a clear Washington, D.C. sky. Located at 1742 Church Street NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, this former church building has been transformed into one of the city’s most beloved intimate performing arts venues. With light spilling softly from its symmetrical arched windows and entryway, the building invites visitors in with the promise of storytelling, creativity, and community.

Originally built in 1905 as the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, this structure has seen the neighborhood around it evolve dramatically over the past century. Its dignified Romanesque design—with rounded-arch windows, decorative brickwork, and modest stone trim—retains the gravitas of its ecclesiastical origins while now embracing a lively new purpose as a theater.

Posters flank the entrance announcing upcoming performances, while the LGBTQ+ pride flag waves proudly above the doorway, signaling the venue’s inclusive spirit. The modern glass expansion to the left harmonizes gracefully with the original architecture, showcasing how adaptive reuse can balance heritage with growth.

This image captures more than just a theater; it reflects the soul of a city that values art, diversity, and historic preservation. It’s a moment of stillness before the lights go down and the curtain rises.

Architectural Survey Appendix (Historic Documentation Format):

Name: Keegan Theatre (formerly Mount Vernon United Methodist Church)

Address: 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Date of Construction: 1905

Style: Romanesque Revival

Architectural Features: Red brick façade, arched windows with fanlights, decorative stone keystones, symmetrical elevation, modern glass addition

Building Material: Brick masonry with stone accents

Number of Stories: 2

Historic Integrity: Well preserved with sensitive modern addition

Current Use: Theater / Performing Arts Venue

Contributing Structure: Yes (within the Dupont Circle Historic District)

20/20 Photo Fest Cherry Street Pier,Philadelphia Pa.-35mm Nikon FM2,Ilford XP2 400.

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Find this former church with others on the Church Conversions Map at chicagobikeadventures.com/church-conversions-map/

These are some of the items we have gotten in the past or would like to have gotten.

These are some of the items we have gotten in the past or would like to have gotten.

These are some of the items we have gotten in the past or would like to have gotten.

These are some of the items we have gotten in the past or would like to have gotten.

The New Orleans Board Of Trade was founded in 1880, and trading continued on the floor until mid-1960. Centered on the eastern wall of the building are three clocks, which have been in place since the building was erected, giving the times in New Orleans, New York & Rio de Janeiro, which were the major players in the Green Coffee Trading.
NRHP ~ CBD
www.charlesmccain.com/pdf/Sold.pdf

Local call number: DM5526

Title: Strand Theatre: Key West, Florida

Date: ca. 1985

General Note: The Strand Theatre, located at 527 Duval Street in Key West, Florida, opened in the early 1920s. It became a nightclub in the early 1980s and later housed a Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, beginning in 1993. The building was purchased by Walgreens and converted into a drugstore in the early 2000s; the company has preserved much of the facade.

Physical descrip: 1 photonegative - col. - 60 mm.

Series Title: Dale M. McDonald Collection

Repository: State Library and Archives of Florida, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250 USA. Contact: 850.245.6700. Archives@dos.myflorida.com

Persistent URL: floridamemory.com/items/show/101085

Earth House Collective Board meeting this morning! ! It's a beautiful day!!