New York physician Robert L. Dickinson, a lover of nature and a prolific artist, served with the War Department in Washington during World War I and while there explored both sides of the Potomac River in his free time. To our immense good fortune, he took his sketchpad with him on his forays and produced idyllic sketches of the rustic scenery that portray a way of life since all but vanished from today's busy capital. His treks took him to quaint mills in Maryland, Mount Vernon in Virginia, and along the C&O Canal when it was a working company, not a National Park. He sketched the Soldiers' Home and the capital's Civil War defenses, the Smithsonian Castle, Georgetown's spires, Franklin Square, and Rock Creek Park. Most of Dickinson's Washington sketches have been reproduced in this volume, along with historical information about each site. Armed with Dickinson's remarkable foldout map and drawings, readers can follow his favorite walking trails and rediscover scenic wonders preserved by generations of devoted outdoor enthusiasts.
