John DeFerrari, author of the wonderful Streets of Washington blog, has published a terrific history of Washington, D.C.’s Meridian Hill Hotel. It was built specifically for World War II Government Girls, and John was kind enough to reference Lipstick Brigade in his post.

Check out John’s blog here: Streets of Washington

During World War II, Washington’s Housing Registry processed up to 10,000 requests every month, often more than 300 women a day. The Meridian Hill Hotel was one attempt by the federal government to stem the never-ending growing demand for wartime housing. The government called the Meridian an “Exclusive Hotel for Women,” but locals sarcastically dubbed it “Purity Palace,” for the almost 800 young, single civilian and military Government Girls living there.

John’s blog traces the history of the building and its many uses and what the future may hold for it in our rapidly developing nation’s capital.