The publication of this book in 1978 created a clarion call for preservation action by documenting the wanton destruction of many architecturally and culturally significant buildings in the nation's capital. In the decades since, rising public awareness and the passage of the Historic District and Historic Landmark Protection Act in 1978 have slowed the pace of thoughtless destruction. But as this completely new and updated edition demonstrates, vigilance remains the watchword, especially as pressures for urban growth continue to intensify in historic neighbourhoods. At once a visual delight, a social history, and an appeal for ongoing awareness, this book reveals the Washington that was and how it became what it is today. This updated edition includes 18 more treasures lost and 90 additional historic photographs. The 270 buildings featured here represent a legacy forever gone, a cultural heritage destroyed in the name of "progress".