Early Photo of Chain Bridge Over the Potomac River Connecting Virginia With Washington DC (1860)

 

View of Chain Bridge over the Potomac River connecting Virginia (area where the bridge ends at left in distance) with Washington, D.C., c. 1860. The two men posing in the rowboat in the foreground might be Peale's photographic assistants or else simply out for a day of fishing. Attributed to Titian Ramsay Peale. Originally published as a stereoview. This is probably the earliest known photo of the bridge if it was taken before or during the early days of the Civil War.

Source: National Museum of American History.

Early Photo of Washington DC Taken From Robert E. Lee's Arlington House Mansion in Arlington, Virginia (1850's/1860's)

 

Early view of Washington, D.C., which looks like it was taken from the area in front of Robert E. Lee's Arlington House mansion in Arlington, Virginia, c. 1855-1865. The uncompleted Washington Monument can be seen across the Potomac River on the right. This might be the earliest known photo of the monument. Possibly taken during the early days of the Civil War after Union soldiers occupied the Arlington House property or else during the years leading up to the war. Attributed to Titian Ramsay Peale.

Source: National Museum of American History.

Early photo of Arlington House possibly taken on the same day by Peale.

View of a Pool of Water, Possibly a Drainage Pool For the C&O Canal Along the Potomac River in Or Near Washington DC (1860)

View of a stream feeding a pool of water, possibly a drainage pool for the C&O Canal along the Potomac River in or near Washington, D.C., c. 1860. Attributed to Titian Ramsay Peale and originally produced to be a stereoview.

Source National Museum of American History.

Four Union Soldiers Testing a Blanket Boat on the Potomac River During the Civil War (1862)

Four Union soldiers testing a blanket boat on the Potomac River during the Civil War, c. 1862. Originally captioned: ”Blanket boats on the Potomac at some distance from shore. A pair of boats carries four men, and a single small boat made of an ordinary blanket, one man, who is sitting on the bottom. Boats of blankets of the ordinary size are too small. They have buoyancy enough to carry a man, but he must be very expert in the use of a canoe, or he will upset.” By Andrew J. Russell.

Source.

Two Men Posing on the Virginia Side of the Potomac River With the Aqueduct Bridge and Georgetown in the Background During the Civil War

Two unidentified men posing on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Arlington with the Aqueduct Bridge and Georgetown in the background during the Civil War. Animated stereoscopic photograph. By William Morris Smith.

Source.

Union Secret Service Agents Posing in Front of Great Falls During the Civil War

 

A group of Union intelligence agents posing in front of Great Falls on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. Animated stereoview.

Source.