BRIDGES OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

Book Update!

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First, yesterday and today, my book, Bridges of Washington, D.C.: A History & Guide, is ranked as the #1 Bridge Photography book on Amazon, as well as the #3 Monument Photography book and #6 Bridge Engineering book. The book bounces up and down these rankings, but hits #1 every week or two, and this is the first time it has hit #1 for two days in a row!

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Next, thanks to Second Edition Books in Columbia and Barnes & Noble in Bowie for inviting me to sign copies of the book last week. I signed a few books, answered questions, and engaged in conversation about Washington, D.C., history and the bridges. I always bring some large posters that display the chronology and geographic distributions of the Washington, D.C., bridges, and these serve as a good conversation starter for discussion about DC history.

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My next scheduled event will be at the Author's Corner for the 2026 DC History Conference, sponsored by the DC History Center at the MLK Library on Saturday, May 2, from noon to 2:00 pm. Then, on Sunday, May 17, from 3:00 to 5:00, I will be signing books at a multi-author DC history event at the Barnes & Noble on M Street in Georgetown. I will also be at Arlington Historical Society for a full Powerpoint presentation on Thursday, June 11, and also at the Takoma Park neighborhood branch of the DC Public Library on August 6.

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I also have a few things online you can read and watch. I recently completed a blog interview with DC historian Matthew Gilmore. The interview is posted at https://matthewbgilmore.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/bob-dover-interview-with-a-washington-dc-history-author-bridges-of-washington-d-c-a-history-guide/ and https://networks.h-net.org/group/discussions/20144592/bob-dover-interview-washington-dc-history-author-bridges-washington-dc. Just yesterday, I recorded a podcast with the Rock, Paper, Write podcaster associated with the Kensington Row local authors group. That podcast is available at https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-9h8yv-1aa6561 I think you have to join Podbean to view it online, but you can download it without joining. I believe it is being released on other podcast platforms.

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As always, continue to follow www.bridgespotting.com, the Bridgespotting Facebook page, and the Bridges of Washington, DC Facebook group, where I rotate color photos of the DC bridges and post updates on coming events!

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If you are part of a group, or know of a group, who wants to hear a presentation about the book, please contact me! The full presentation is about an hour long, and goes through the chronology of bridge construction in DC from the 1750s to today, and into the future. Not just facts and figures about the bridges, the presentation is really about the history of the District of Columbia itself, and how this history is reflected in the bridges that were constructed. The presentation also includes dozens of lovely photos of the DC bridges, showing the aesthetic forms of the structures, the stunning statues and decorations on the older bridges, the nighttime lighting on the newer bridges, and the historic importance of many of the structures. I am not interested in charging a fee – only in meeting folks, enjoying conversation about my hometown, and getting the word out to the community about the amazing transformations to DC’s riverfronts in the past 20 years.