Civil War to Civil Rights

— Downtown Heritage Trail —

"Alvin, Washington, D.C. is the place for us."

So wrote Samuel Walter Woodward to his business partner, Alvin Lothrop, in 1879. The young entrepreneurs were looking for a new location for their innovative dry goods store near Boston, Massachusetts. Unhappy with the bargaining common in stores of the day, they were the first to charge a fixed price and to allow returns.

Woodward recognized the new vitality and promise of the nation's capital. Since the end of the Civil War just 14 years earlier, Washington had new importance as the center of a strong federal government. It had been thoroughly modernized, with broad paved streets and avenues, sewers, gaslights, and thousands of new trees. Americans were flocking to the newly important capital to take government jobs and start businesses.

Woodward and Lothrop joined them in 1880 and opened their store near Seventh and Pennsylvania Avenue. In 1887, they moved their establishment, now enlarged to a modern "department store," to this location, spearheading the development of F Street as the city's premier downtown shopping boulevard. Affectionately known as "Woodies," the store was a Washington tradition until its closing in 1996.

[Photo captions:]

above
Samuel W. Woodward, left, and Alvin M. Lothrop, right, about 1880.
(The Historical Society of Washington, DC).

above
Woodward and Lothrop's first store at 705 Market Space.
(The Historical Society of Washington, DC).

[Three pictures] left to right
The soda fountain and main aisle of "Woodies" await customers, while an advertisement, right, places the store among the city's major attractions.
(The Historical Society of Washington, DC).

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Washington, DC  |  20001  |  District Of Columbia  |  United States of America

The Woodward and Lothrop "Woodies" Colorization Project
St. Patrick's Parish
Abraham Lincoln
John J. Donovan, Jr.
John Wilkes Booth's Escape
The Old Carroll Hall
The Christian Index
Knights of Pythias
Roy Lichtenstein
The Restoration of 800 F Street

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.