‘The damage done’
courtesy of ‘

Three and a half years after a three alarm fire destroyed the Georgetown library’s roof and much of the second floor, the historic branch of the DC Public Library will reopen in the Fall of 2010.  The blaze occurred on April 30, 2007 just three hours after another DC landmark, Eastern Market, burned to the ground.  The library’s Peabody room, located on the second floor, housed numerous documents and artifacts detailing the history of the Georgetown neighborhood;  luckily 80% of these invaluable items were saved from the fire and quickly whisked off to the Library of Congress and various other institutions for restoration and protection.  The building’s reopening has been a discussion piece for neighborhood locals, and much more so since Eastern Market has been rebuilt, opened and in use for the past few months.  Until recently, the rumored reopening date had seemed indefinite, but there seems to be a light at the end of tunnel (however far away that may be) as two construction signs outside the still cinged brick front of the library call out the Fall 2010 reopening.  Be sure to mark your calendars and save the date!

Rebecca Johnson

A born and bred New Yorker, Rebecca made the big trip “down south” to DC in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. She spends her days strategizing/planning/ideating how interactive products can help her clients and change the world. In her free time, she explores DC’s ever expanding bar, restaurant and small business scene, plays a crap ton of soccer, attends concerts that contribute to her sleep deprivation and embarks on local adventures. Read why Rebecca loves DC or follow her on twitter.