Washington Itself: An Informal Guide to the Capital of the United States

The title is misleading: This is not a guide to Washington, but a personal and very subjective guide to the architecture of Washington. It is really best suited for Washington residents who have lived with these buildings for years, but never taken the time to appreciate their delights or to learn of the fascinating stories behind them. Applewhite spent his professional life as a bureaucrat at the CIA, across the Potomac from Washington. But it is clear from the book that his real love was architecture and history. It is a privilege to be able to share the author's insights about these buildings that he loved -- as well as some that he despised. The prose is a sheer delight.

Where can you hear the first two notes of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' in Washington? On the Metro, that's where.That's just one of the little tidbits in this gem of a book, which I bought in 1983 just before I came to Washington for a three-month internship. I didn't return until 1999, but I kept the book as a good guide for my visits.Applewhite pulls no punches, disparaging some of the more modern office buildings in the federal part of the city (he's brutal on the Rayburn House Office Building), but giving a wonderfully rich guide to Embassy Row and other areas that not everyone visits.If you want something more than your average travelogue travelguide, get this. It'll help you fall in love with our Nation's Capital. I know it did that for me.

This book was an excellent counterpoint to the usual 2 sentence blurbs in most guidebooks. Each entry gave a brief historical overview of each building or monument. I really enjoyed getting background information on buildings that I see every day. I thought for a new Washingtonian it is an excellent way to familiarize oneself with the landscape and for the tourist it is a more in depth way to get to know the whos and whys of Washington architecture. I have found myself refering to the book periodically whenever I find some new circle or park with an oddball statue or name. The book is organized by geography so it can also be helpful for any walking tour of the city. An excellent reference tool.