20 essential books about Washington, D.C.

Form the Watergate to the Cairo, the American Institute of Architects provides insight into more than 400 landmarks in Washington, D.C. with descriptions and historical facts on each one.

This massive, well-researched book is the authoritative guide to every apartment building in and around Washington, D.C. Along with photography and examinations of the people who built and lived in these properties, Goode goes above and beyond when it comes to documenting the architectural wonders of the nation's capital. Goode was the winner of Washingtonian's prestigious "Washingtonian of the Year" award.

Take an architectural tour of Washington, D.C.'s architecture lost to the wrecking ball with photography and history into not only the properties, but the people who inhabited them.

After 10 years of research, Peatross published this illustrated text with stories of how Washington, D.C.'s architecture was linked with the zodiac, while providing the significance of the symbols found throughout the nation's capital.

Every aspect of Washington, D.C. is investigated in this publication, from the District's major government buildings to its monuments to its neighborhoods, while unearthing the myriad number of changes the city's architecture has experienced since the Revolutionary War.

This well-documented publication focuses on the work of the National Capital Planning Commission and how the District has grown over the past few decades.

This narrative account explores the story of how Pierre Charles L'Enfant was chosen to design the nation's capital, why he was turned away only 11 months later, and what became of his designs.

In this book, architectural historian Pamela Scott delves into the depth of the the Corps' involvement in the design and development of Washington, D.C. This publication received the Blue Pencil Award for "Most Outstanding Soft Cover Book" from the National Association for Government Communicators in 2007.

While most argue that the design of Washington, D.C. is thanks to Pierre Charles L'Enfant, Ovason argues that it was Masonic architects like Thomas Jefferson who truly influenced the making of the city.

Rock Creek Park should be known for more than its trails. It should also be known for its influence on the Civil War, U.S. Presidents, and poet Joaquin Miller.

Get to know the nitty gritty side of this Southeast neighborhood by learning about historic crimes and misbehaving government officials.

Today, Dupont Circle is known for its variety of retail and restaurant options, but at one point it was full of small farms. In this publication, one can learn about its beginnings as well as how it eventually became a home for U.S. President William Taft, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, and extravagant balls.

One upon a time, Foggy Bottom was an industrial center. Now, it's home to mansions, the Kennedy Center, and Watergate. In this publication, the authors discuss how this Northwest neighborhood evolved.

Adams Morgan has experienced a myriad of changes over the past few decades, and soon there will be even more changes planned. What more can you learn from Washington, D.C.'s most racially diverse neighborhood? You can find out with this book.

The Kalorama that we know and love today was once used as barracks and hospitals during the Civil War. See what information historian and longtime resident Stephen A. Hansen has to provide on this transition to what it is now.

According to this publication, Logan, Scott, and Thomas circles are historically significant in their influence on the Civil War, the elite, and politicians.

This publication is a collection of essays from historians, poets, planners, and more. Expect a look at the Mall's past and future.

With a location so close to the Potomac River, this neighborhood was a site where Europeans colonials settled. As a book meant to be a walking tour of Georgetown, you will be able to discover the homes of John F. Kennedy, Francis Scott Key, and more.

Due to its location on a streetcar line, this Northeast neighborhood experienced a housing boom in the 20th century. In this book, you will be able to learn which builders helped transform the area from farms to row houses.

In the early 1900s, U Street was mostly populated by African Americans due to racial segregation in Washington, D.C. It was the site of culture, music, and later the riots of 1968. See what else causes this Northwest neighborhood to be so unique and so significant in the nation's capital.