From A to DC: Transportation in Washington
Through February 28, 2026
Traverse the nation’s capital by air, land or sea in this exhibition exploring the history of Washington’s transportation systems. Artworks from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection depict innovations in travel that transformed the District during the 19th and 20th centuries.
About the Exhibition
As D.C. evolved, so did the ways people moved through it. From A to DC: Transportation in Washington follows this evolution, from the city’s establishment through the 20th century.
Visitors will encounter striking prints, engravings and ephemera that document a city in motion — from a newspaper announcing President Buchanan’s arrival at the train station to a magazine cover showing Winton motor cars parked in front of the Capitol building. These scenes reveal how each new advance in transportation redefined daily life in the nation’s capital.
Acknowledgements
This exhibition was organized by the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies with support from the Albert and Shirley Small Family Foundation.
Washington, Pennsylvania Railroad, Go by Train, published by Pennsylvania Railroad, 1950, AS 2017.90.
Phoenix Line 'Safety Coaches,' published by Endicott & Swet, c. 1835, AS 257.
Arrival of Mr. Buchanan at the Railroad Station, Washington, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1857, AS 363.
Exhibition Programs
Saturday, August 23, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Available to book Tuesdays-Saturdays
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.