thomascircle

That's the base of the Thomas Statue, in Thomas Circle, in the background.

Thanks, mosley.brian!

The title and summary have been updated! Susannah Smithsonian Institution Archives

Was this before or after the Luther Place church burned down and was rebuilt around 1905?

Luther Place Memorial Church – Then, Then and Now (100+ years later)

Luther Place Memorial Church was built in 1873 as a memorial to peace and reconciliation following the American Civil War. Its original name was Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church and it was designed by architects Judson York, J.C. Harkness, and Henry Davis. It is located at 14th Street and Vermont Avenue NW, at Thomas Circle, in Washington, D.C., near its namesake, a statue of Martin Luther.

The first photograph shows the church during construction, c. 1870.  In 1904 (15 years before the second photograph was taken), Luther Place suffered damage from a fire, leading to restoration of the church and a renewed energy and celebration of its mission. President Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the restoration ceremony in 1905.

Since 1904 little has changed to the exterior of the church, albeit the surroundings and Thomas Circle have changed dramatically. There was a recent restoration of the church interior, and the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [1] [2] [3]

(The spire to the far right in the two later photographs is that of the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church.)

 
"Thomas Circle & Luther Place Memorial Church" (c. 1870) by rockcreek


 
"Luther Memorial Church" (1919) by Martin A. Gruber

 

"Luther Place Memorial Church" (2007) by Thundercheese

 

Thanks, Pixel Wrangler!