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MORNING TOURS

Kenilworth Aquatic Garden Early Bird Tour 
Saturday, September 19
7:45 - 9 am
Meet and end at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden Visitor Center, 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: Deanwood Metro station (Orange line)
This park is an oasis for resident and migratory birds and other wildlife that are attracted by native plants and ornamental plants. No birding skills required, but always welcomed! Bring binoculars if you have them. Led by Ian Lothian and presented by National Park Service.
Note: Wear comfortable close-toed shoes. Terrain will be grass and soil trails and gravel paths. 

St. Elizabeths East Campus Tour - Past, Present, and Future
 - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
9 - 11 am
Meet and end at St. Elizabeth's Chapel parking lot, 2700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: Congress Heights Metro station (Green line)
Reservations required: Online
Tour historic St. Elizabeths Hospital, a pioneer in therapeutic techniques in mental health. Opened in 1855, St. E’s has treated over 125,000 patients, including John Hinckley, Jr. Hear about the history and future of the campus from St. Elizabeths doctors. Led by Dr. Surya Kanhouwa and Dr. Jogues Prandon.

History of Brookland
Saturday, September 19
9 - 10:30 am
Meet and end inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
This is a two-mile survey tour relating Brookland’s history. It points out the homes of famous Brooklanders including Ralph Bunche, Laura Kinnan Rawlings, Sterling Brown, and Robert Weaver. Discover African American and Catholic influences throughout the neighborhood and stop at a Civil War fort and the Franciscan Monistary. Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by Brookland Tour Committee.

John Russell Pope Treasure Hunt  - CANCELLED
Sponsored by Verizon Foundation
Saturday, September 19
9 - 11 am
Meet outside Federal Triangle Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at Smithsonian Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Give your treasure hunting skills a workout while learning about the tremendous impact of John Russell Pope on Washington architecture. Highlights of this 14-block walk include the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, Federal Triangle, and the Jefferson Memorial. Bring your best walking shoes and a good eye for detail so you can outspot your tourmates! Led by Bruce St. Germain and presented by WashingTours & Events.

Potomac River Stroll
Saturday, September 19
9 - 11 am
Meet at Benjamin Banneker Park, south end of L’Enfant Promenade
End stroll at Foggy Bottom Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: L’Enfant Plaza Metro station (Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines)
Experience Washington from the waterfront. Walk four miles through neighborhoods and by marinas, the fish market, monuments, and parks in Southwest. Enjoy fine views of Washington, the national monuments, Arlington cemetery, the Lee Custis mansion, Rosslyn, and the waterfront. Presented by WashingTours & Events and led by volunteer tour guide Russ Norfleet.

Spies of Georgetown Walking Tour  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
9 - 11:30 am
Meet at Wisconsin Avenue and R Street, NW (in front of Georgetown Public Library)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Circulator Bus
End at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Georgetown is one of the most fashionable areas of Washington but it holds a secret past filled with espionage and intrigue. This two-mile tour highlights sites associated with spies, counter-spies, and covert action and tells stories truly “stranger than fiction.” Led by Carol Bessette, a retired Air Force intelligence officer and certified Master Tour Guide. Presented by Spies of Georgetown Tour.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Museum of Health and Medicine
 - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
9 - 11 am
Meet at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Building 1 (enter Georgia Avenue/Elder Street gate)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Takoma Park Metro station (Red line), 70 Metrobus
End at National Museum of Health and Medicine, Building 54
Reservations required: Online
Explore the 100-year history of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and learn how one man’s dream led to one of today’s leading medical facilities. Landmarks include the original US Army General hospital, where Eisenhower and General of the Armies John J. Pershing spent their final days, the new hospital complex, the formal Rose Garden, the Memorial Chapel, the Walter Reed Memorial, and the spot President Lincoln was nearly shot during the Battle of Fort Stevens. Then tour the National Museum of Health and Medicine to learn about the history of military medicine, including a special exhibit about the medical care given to President Lincoln during his last hours. Tour is just over one mile long. Led by John Pierce, a retired Army physician and historian of the Walter Reed Society, and Andi Sacks, a docent from the National Museum of Health and Medicine.
Note: Photo ID required.

Georgetown’s East Village
Saturday, September 19
9:30 - 10:30 am
Meet and end at East Garden entrance of Dumbarton House, 2715 Q Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Dupont Circle Metro station (Red line), D1, D2, or D6 Metrobuses
Discover the beginnings of Georgetown, first known as a tract of land called Rock of Dumbarton. The one-mile tour begins at Dumbarton House, a Federal Period (1780-1820) home and continues in the surrounding neighborhood. Stops include manor houses as well as much smaller homes of the servants and slaves of historic Herring Hill. Led by Dwane Starlin and presented by Dumbarton House Museum & Headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America.

Before Harlem, There Was U Street  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end outside U St/African Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station, 13th Street exit (Green and Yellow lines)
Reservations required: Online
Take a walk along Washington’s “Black Broadway,” where Duke Ellington grew up and was inspired and where musical greats such as Cab Calloway and Dizzy Gillespie played into the wee hours of the morning. Here in the shadow of Howard University, African Americans created a strong community that produced leaders for the city and the nation. Led by Jon Keljik and presented by Cultural Tourism DC and Washington Walks.

Embassy Row - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station, Dupont South exit (Red line)
End at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Revel in the Beaux-Arts grandeur of Massachusetts Avenue, better known as Embassy Row, and learn about the mining, railroad, banking, and publishing families who showcased their fortunes in the nation’s capital, leaving impressive 1880s and 90s mansions. Imagine fabulous wealth, parties, and scandals of the past while glimpsing the life led by Washington’s diplomatic community today. Led by Mary Anne Hoffman and presented by Washington Walks.

Get Back to Your Roots 
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at outside U.S. National Arboretum Administration Building (near 24th and R Streets, NE)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Stadium-Armory Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), B-2 Metrobus
Enjoy the great outdoors with a moderately strenuous, five-mile hike through meadows, woods, hills, and world-class gardens! Learn the history of the people and plants that have shaped this 446 acre green oasis located within DC city limits. Led by an Arboretum staff member.
Note: Bring water and wear hiking boots. Free parking available inside Arboretum gate.

Historic Anacostia 
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at the Anacostia Metro station (Green line)
Anacostia started out as "Union Town," established to attract blue collar workers at the Navy Yard. Its three developers each ironically had the first name of John. One of their houses ended up in the hands of Frederick Douglass, and it gained the title of Cedar Hill. Led by Kalem Umrani, local historian.

Historical St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11:30 am
Meet outside Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at 728 23rd Street, NW
Tour the first Episcopal Church for African Americans in Washington, DC. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church was a former Civil War chapel donated by Lincoln’s Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Architectural highlights in include magnificent stained glass windows from Lorin de Chartres, France, and Tiffany. Led by Brad and Ann Louise Tatum in conjunction with Dr. Richard English and Marc Fetterman. Presented by St Mary’s Episcopal Church.

NoMa’s Renaissance: To NPR 
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11 am
Meet outside New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro station, M Street exit (Red line)
End at  New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro station (Red line)
This up-and-coming neighborhood north of Union Station is home to landmarks such as Uline Arena, site of the Beatles first North American concert in 1964. The New York Avenue Metro station opened in 2004, igniting the pace of development in NoMa. With lead anchors like Sirius XM Radio; US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and NPR, a new mixed-use neighborhood is taking shape. Includes stops at the Metropolitan Branch Trail and Constitution Square, DC’s largest development project and future home to Harris Teeter. This one-mile tour is led and presented by Elizabeth Price, President, NoMa Business Improvement District.

Old Takoma Park
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at Takoma Metro station (Red line)
Explore the residential and commercial origins of DC’s first railroad suburb, founded in 1883 by developer B.F. Gilbert. Like the original land purchase, this tour spans both sides of the DC/Maryland line. Stop at the original 1791 boundary stone, the 1911 Carnegie branch library, Takoma Theatre, the elegant Cady-Lee Victorian, and examples of the four-squares and bungalows built by the Takoma Park’s first residents. Led by volunteer tour guide Diana Kohn and presented by Historic Takoma, Inc.

Peirce Mill: Two Hundred Years in the Nation’s Capital
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11:30 am
Meet and end at Peirce Mill, Tilden Street and Rock Creek Park, NW (across creek from Beech Drive)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Van Ness-UDC Metro station (Red line)
Hear the little-known story of the Peirce/Shoemaker clan, Pennsylvanians who came to Washington just after the Revolution and became successful entrepreneurs and leaders of the local community. The Peirces built the water-powered flour mill on Rock Creek that still stands today and owned more than 1,000 acres, which they farmed and harvested for timber. Tour includes a view inside the mill under restoration, a short walk to see “Cloverdale” (the Peirce family’s elegant 19th century home), and discussion on the family’s legacy as one of DC’s largest slaveholders. Led and presented by Friends of Peirce Mill.

River Farms to Urban Towers: Southwest Heritage Trail 
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet at Sign 1: Fourth and M Streets, SW
Go on a guided tour of Cultural Tourism DC's River Farms to Urban Towers: Southwest Heritage Trail. Led by Jane Freundel Levey.

A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail 
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet at Sign 1: Division Avenue and Foote Street, NE
Go on a guided tour of Cultural Tourism DC's A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail. Led by Dennis Chestnut.

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I 
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12:30 pm
Meet inside Great Hall, Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Azi’s Café, 1336 Ninth Street, NW
Shaw has always been a crossroads. Today, the Washington Convention Center dominates Shaw’s southern half, but it once consisted of woods and a few farms. Notable historic figures lived and worked in lower central Shaw, including explorer John Wesley Powell, African American U.S. Senator Blanche K. Bruce, and historian Carter G. Woodson. This half-mile walk includes visits to view selected building interiors. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

Spanish Stroll  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet outside Organization of American States, 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut West Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Take a nine-block stroll through memorials and sculptures that commemorate Hispanic history and influence in the New World. Stops include the gardens of the Organization of American States, love sonnets by Pablo Neruda, Virginia Avenue statuaries, and the Kennedy Center statue of Don Quixote, the most prominent mythical figure in Spanish literature, better known to theatergoers as The Man of La Mancha. Presented by WashingTours & Events and led by Susan Granum.

The Battle that Saved Washington 
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11 am
Meet and end at Fort Stevens, 13th and Quackenbos Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: 14th Street Metrobus #52
Reservations required: Online
As General Grant was laying seige to the Confederate capital in July of 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early arrived at the northern outskirts of Washington with 12,000 battle-hardened troops. The only thing standing between the Confederates and the White House was the sparsely defended Fort Stevens. Take a one-mile tour of this site while learning the story behind it. Led by Ray Rongley and presented by the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia.

The Sumner School and Its Lost Neighborhood
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end outside Charles Sumner School Museum, 17th and M Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut North Metro station (Red line)
Museum archivist Hayden Wetzel leads a tour of the area around the old Sumner and Macgruder Schools, pointing out remnants of the community that once existed there. The tour also goes behind the scenes at the Sumner School Museum, which holds an extensive collection of historical materials from DC Public Schools. Presented by The Charles Sumner School Museum.

The United States Capitol Grounds - Olmsted Landscape Tour
 - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 2 pm
Meet outside Library of Congress Jefferson Building, First Street and Independence Avenue, SE, south terrace
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at First Street and Maryland Avenue, SW
Reservations required: Online
Commissioned by Congress in 1874 to design the grounds of the Capitol, Frederick Law Olmsted created an innovative landscape, presenting the building to greatest visual effect while overcoming numerous design challenges. Explore the history and design of the Capitol grounds while learning about its intricate features: the Olmsted-designed marble terraces, brick Summerhouse, masterful stone and ironwork, and carefully crafted views and circulation paths. Tour is 1.5 miles. Presented by the National Association for Olmsted Parks and the United States Capitol Historical Society, and led by staff and volunteers of the USCHS.

Tree Walk: Discover Capitol Hill - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Casey Trees invites you to discover Washington’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods - Capitol Hill. Learn about the grand oaks, elms, and more that adorn landmarks such as the US Capitol and which trees - “witness trees” - have seen it all. The four mile tour loop will include Folger and Garfield Parks and the Senate and House Gardens. Led by Carol Herwig and presented by Casey Trees.

Victory at Fort Stevens 
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11:30 am
Meet at Fort Stevens Park, 13th and Peabody Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: 70 Metrobus-Georgia Avenue
End at Georgia Avenue and Whittier Street, NW
Explore Fort Stevens and its surrounding neighborhood to relive the historical highlights of the moral turning point of the Civil War. Highlights include the spot where Abraham Lincoln stood when he was almost shot by enemy fire and Battleground National Cemetery, the final resting place for 41 brave men who fought and died at Fort Stevens. Led by Pat Tyson and presented by members of the Brightwood Community Association.

From Slavery to Freedom in Adams Morgan 
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Saturday, September 19
10 - 11:30 am
Meet on SunTrust Bank plaza, 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station (Red line), Circulator stop at Calvert Street
End at Walter Pierce Park, Calvert Street and Adams Mill Road, NW
Walk one mile through Civil War-era Adams Morgan, where more than a dozen enslaved African American men, women, and children lived and worked on John Little’s cattle farm. Learn how a daring young woman’s attempt to escape slavery has made Kalorama Park DC’s newest National Network to Freedom Underground Railroad site. Visit Walter Pierce Park, where Howard University archaeologists are helping to identify and preserve Washington’s busiest African American cemetery following the Civil War. Led by Mary Belcher and Eddie Becker and presented by the Kalorama Citizens Association.

History of Brookland
Saturday, September 19
10:30 am - 12 noon
Meet and end inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
This is a two-mile survey tour relating Brookland’s history. It points out the homes of famous Brooklanders including Ralph Bunche, Laura Kinnan Rawlings, Sterling Brown, and Robert Weaver. Discover African American and Catholic influences throughout the neighborhood and stop at a Civil War fort and the Franciscan Monistary. Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by Brookland Tour Committee.

The FRONT 
Sponsored by Velocity Condominiums
Saturday, September 19
10:30 am - 12 noon
Meet and end outside Navy Yard Metro station, New Jersey Avenue exit (Green line)
Capitol Riverfront or, “The Front,” is DC’s new neighborhood on the river, a growing district-within-the-District that extends the city’s skyline to the water’s edge. Discover the history of and the reasons behind the growth of this new neighborhood, located just five blocks south of the U.S. Capitol. Explore The Front’s distinct industrial heritage where the Navy once produced ships’ parts and weaponry; walk inside the historic buildings under renovations as The Yards development; discover an emerging urban riverfront community with a focus on sustainable development and riverfront renewal. This 1.5-mile tour is led by Michael Stevens and presented by Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District.

U.S. Botanic Garden - National Garden  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
10:30 - 11:30 am
Meet and end at National Garden’s Terrace Gate, U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Federal Center SW Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Stroll three acres of the U.S. Botanic Garden’s newest addition, the National Garden. Hear the folk tales and stories of the native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region. Stop in the butterfly garden and learn about plants that act as a food source for pollinators. Presented and led by the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Note: Hat and sunscreen are encouraged. Tour is cancelled in case of rain.

Walt Whitman Way 
Saturday, September 19
10:30 am - 12 noon
Meet at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, at the General Sherman statue
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Metro Center station (Blue, Orange, and Red lines)
End at National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets, NW
This three-quarter-mile tour will trace poet Walt Whitman’s life in DC during the tumultuous Civil War period, from the Treasury Building where he worked as a government clerk, to the Old Patent Office Building, where he comforted wounded soldiers. Led by Martin Murray and presented by Washington Friends of Walt Whitman.

Blagden Alley and Naylor Court 
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 12:30 pm
Meet on southeast corner of Ninth and N Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Mt Vernon Sq 7th St-Convention Center Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Blagden Alley, 10th and N Streets, NW
Explore the history, life, and architecture of Naylor Court and Blagden Alley, two of the best-preserved 19th century Washington alleys. Though poor, the residents of these alleys, mostly African Americans, formed separate, mutually supportive communities, with complex interactions with the larger Washington society. These alley dwellings narrowly survived reformers’ attempts to demolish them and remain endangered today. Led by Mark Herlong.

Congressional Cemetery Introductory Tour
Saturday, September 19
11 - 11:30 am
Meet and end at 1801 E Street, SE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Potomac Ave or Stadium Armory Metro stations (Blue and Orange lines)
The history of DC comes alive in this two-mile tour! The renaissance of this historic landmark on Capitol Hill is evident in new roads and lots of clean-up, making this cemetery a DC destination. Its famous, interesting, and historic residents await your visit so their stories can be told. Led by HCC Dozen Decent Docents and presented by Congressional Cemetery.

Courage! The Civil War in Washington 
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 12:30 pm
Meet on corner of 10th and E Streets, NW (outside Cosi)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Metro Center station (Blue, Orange, and Red lines)
 or Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Ford’s Theatre at 10th and F Streets, NW
Since 2001, Natalie Zanin has been performing her unusual, costumed tours. Follow this “citizen” of Washington City during war years of 1860-1865 to discover spies, soldiers, hot-air balloons, and a pistol-packing heroine who risked her life to save others. Hear amazing tales of life in Washington during this divisive time, including stories of Harriet Tubman, Louisa May Alcott and Mathew Brazy, J. Wilkes Booth, Frederick Douglass, and more! Led and presented by Natalie Zanin’s Historic Strolls.

Embassy Row - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 1 pm
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station, Dupont South exit (Red line)
End at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Revel in the Beaux-Arts grandeur of Massachusetts Avenue, better known as Embassy Row, and learn about the mining, railroad, banking, and publishing families who showcased their fortunes in the nation’s capital, leaving impressive 1880s and 90s mansions. Imagine fabulous wealth, parties, and scandals of the past while glimpsing the life led by Washington’s diplomatic community today. Led by Terry Cordaro and presented by Washington Walks.

Explore Florida Market/Capital City Market 
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 1 pm
Meet outside New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro station, Florida Avenue exit (Red line)
End at Litteri’s Italian Deli, 517 Morse Street, NE
The Florida Market is the city’s major wholesale food distribution center. The tour will stop at restaurants and vendors, including the DC Farmers Market building, and discuss development issues that are affecting the market. Led by Richard Layman and presented by Citizens Planning Coalition, Frozen Tropics weblog, Capitol Hill North Neighborhood Association, and Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space weblog.

Historic Garden Tour: Tudor Place 
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at Tudor Place main gate, 1644 31st Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Stroll through a 5.5-acre garden that has witnessed 200 years of history! Leaders such as Robert E. Stroll Lee, Andrew Jackson, and General Lafayette have all enjoyed the boxwood circle, the English knot garden, and the largest collection of old growth trees in DC planted by Martha Washington’s grandchildren! Presented by Tudor Place Historic House and Garden and led by Tudor Place volunteer docents.

Kalorama
Saturday, September 19
11 am - 1 pm
Meet on corner of 22nd Street and Decatur Place, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Dupont Circle Metro station (Red line)
End at Woodrow Wilson House: 2340 S Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Kalorama was named in 18078 for the expansive views to be had from its place overlooking today’s Rock Creek Park and has remained a prime residential area. Ascend the “Spanish Steps” to reach the heights where Washington’s diplomatic community is evident at every turn, many of the original mansions now occupied by ambassadors or embassies. Restored police and fire call boxes punctuate the neighborhood as imaginative works of public art. Led by Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks.

The Half Had Not Been Told Me: African Americans on Lafayette Square

Saturday, September 19
11 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at Decatur House, 748 Jackson Place, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut West Metro station (Blue and Orange lines) or Farragut North Metro station (Red line)
This tour highlights the rich African American history of one of the capital’s first neighborhoods. Explore the compelling sites and stories of those who lived and worked, played and protested, all within sight of the White House. Led by Ben Kunkel and presented by Decatur House on Lafayette Square.

A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly 
Saturday, September 19
11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Meet outside Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Metro Center Metro station (Blue, Orange, and Red lines)
End at Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Reservations required: Online
Join Elizabeth Keckly, a free black woman and confidante to Mrs. Lincoln, as she tells the story of her friendship with the Lincoln family and of her efforts to help former slaves find their way in the newly free city of Washington. Led in period costume by Danielle A. Drakes, and presented by the Ford’s Theatre Society.
Note: Tour distance is about 1.5 miles and does not enter Ford’s Theatre.

Congressional Cemetery Introductory Tour
Saturday, September 19
11:30 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at 1801 E Street, SE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Potomac Ave or Stadium Armory Metro stations (Blue and Orange lines)
The history of DC comes alive in this two-mile tour! The renaissance of this historic landmark on Capitol Hill is evident in new roads and lots of clean-up, making this cemetery a DC destination. Its famous, interesting, and historic residents await your visit so their stories can be told. Led by HCC Dozen Decent Docents and presented by Congressional Cemetery.

Go back to Saturday morning tours.


AFTERNOON TOURS

Congressional Cemetery Introductory Tour
Saturday, September 19
12 noon - 12:30 pm
Meet and end at 1801 E Street, SE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Potomac Ave or Stadium Armory Metro stations (Blue and Orange lines)
The history of DC comes alive in this two-mile tour! The renaissance of this historic landmark on Capitol Hill is evident in new roads and lots of clean-up, making this cemetery a DC destination. Its famous, interesting, and historic residents await your visit so their stories can be told. Led by HCC Dozen Decent Docents and presented by Congressional Cemetery.

History of Brookland
Saturday, September 19
12 noon - 1:30 pm
Meet and end inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
This is a two-mile survey tour relating Brookland’s history. It points out the homes of famous Brooklanders including Ralph Bunche, Laura Kinnan Rawlings, Sterling Brown, and Robert Weaver. Discover African American and Catholic influences throughout the neighborhood and stop at a Civil War fort and the Franciscan Monistary. Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by Brookland Tour Committee.

Temperance Tour
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Saturday, September 19
12 noon - 3 pm
Meet at Cogswell Temperance Fountain, Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S Street, NW
Tour Prohibition-related sites in Washington, DC starting at the Cogswell Temperance Fountain, which was funded by a California dentist who protested alcohol in the nation’s capital. Continue to Calvary Baptist Church, where the Anti-Saloon League had its national convention in 1895 and then to Prohibition-era President Woodrow Wilson’s house in Dupont Circle. If you’re thirsty afterward join us to toast the end of Prohibition at a nearby establishment. Led by Garrett Peck, author of The Prohibition Hangover.
Note: Participants should bring a Metro card. Book signings will follow both tours.

GW’s Future & Green Tour 
Saturday, September 19
12 noon - 1 pm
Meet and end outside Marvin Center, 800 21st Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Hear plans for transforming Square 54 (the 2.6-acre site of the old GW Hospital) into a world-class mixed use town center with grocery and retail shops, apartments, and commercial office space. Visit GW’s newest residence hall, developed in partnership with DC Public Schools’ School Without Walls. Learn about upcoming development projects in the 20-year campus plan, as well as GW's ongoing sustainability efforts, including new green spaces and a partnership with Casey Trees. This half-mile tour is led by John Ralls and presented by The George Washington University.

Rediscovering Mount Vernon Triangle 
Sponsored by Madrigal Lofts
Saturday, September 19
12 noon - 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Carnegie Library, south side, Eighth and K Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines)
Walk the Mount Vernon Triangle to learn about its history and rebirth, and the new retail, offices, and condos of this once forgotten neighborhood. This one-mile tour will include a walk past remaining historic buildings and discussion about the market forces that lead to its decline and current revitalization. The tour may stop at a new condo, office building or historic church. Led by Bill McLeod and presented by Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.

Congressional Cemetery Introductory Tour
Saturday, September 19
12:30 - 1 pm
Meet and end at 1801 E Street, SE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Potomac Ave or Stadium Armory Metro stations (Blue and Orange lines)
The history of DC comes alive in this two-mile tour! The renaissance of this historic landmark on Capitol Hill is evident in new roads and lots of clean-up, making this cemetery a DC destination. Its famous, interesting, and historic residents await your visit so their stories can be told. Led by HCC Dozen Decent Docents and presented by Congressional Cemetery.

Kingman Island: From a Theme Park to Parklands 
Saturday, September 19
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Kingman Island entrance near corner of Oklahoma and Benning Road, NE. Directions can be found at online.
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Stadium-Armory Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), X1 & X2 Metrobuses
Explore the natural and often undiscovered habitats of Kingman and Heritage Islands in the Anacostia River. The Army Corps of Engineers created the islands from river sediment in 1916, permanently changing the local environment. Hear about previous ideas for use of the island, including a potential theme park, and current plans such as a LEED certified environmental education center. Led by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region.
Note: Please wear walking shoes and bug repellant. The 1.5-mile trail is flat and fairly easy to navigate.

U.S. Department of the Interior Murals Tour  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut West Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), 80 bus
Reservations required: Online
The U.S. Department of the Interior Main Interior Building was designed to be a “symbol of a new day” during the Great Depression. Explore more than 20 New Deal-era murals and learn how this public art project stimulated more than just the economy. Led by Diana Ziegler and presented by U.S. Department of the Interior Museum.

Artist G. Byron Peck’s Shaw/U Street Mural Tour 
Saturday, September 19
1 - 2:30 pm
Meet on corner of 13th and U Street, NW
Nearest Metro: U Street/African-Amer Civil War Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Connecticut and Florida Avenues, NW
Washington mural artist G. Byron Peck leads a three-quarter-mile tour of murals that span U Street, 14th Street, Florida Avenue, Adams Morgan, and Dupont Circle. Starting with the well-known “Duke Ellington Mural” and six more murals along the way, hear about their creation and the history of the neighborhood.

Barry Farm, Anacostia 
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3 pm
Meet and end at Anacostia Metro station
This visit to Anacostia highlights an area that was once home to thousands of homeless ex-slaves after the Civil War. Secretly purchased by General Oliver O. Howard of the Bureau of Refugees, Freemen, and Abandoned Lands, and the local Barry family, these 370 acres of land became nationally known as Frederick Douglass’s sons and other notables moved there. Led by Kalem Umrani and presented by Barry Farm Residents Council.

Catholic University of America Campus Tour 
Saturday, September 19
1 - 2:30 pm
Meet outside McMahon Hall, Catholic University, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
Reservations required: Online
Located next to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the Brookland neighborhood, The Catholic University of America holds a unique place as the national university of the Catholic Church and the only institution of higher education founded by the US bishops. Presented by the Office of Admissions and led by a current CUA undergraduate student.
Note: Campus map available online.

Old Tenleytown - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3 pm
Meet outside Tenleytown Metro station, West exit (Red line)
End outside Tenleytown Metro station, East exit (Red line)
Reservations required: Online
Come and learn about Tenleytown, the second oldest neighborhood in Washington. John Tennally settled here before 1789 and his tavern served farmers taking tobacco to the Port of Georgetown. Discover the Grant Road Historic District, a step back into the 19th century. Visit Fort Reno Park, site of the largest Civil War fort defending Washington, and hear why it is called The Summit that Saved the Union. Led by Frank J. Haendler and presented by Tenleytown Historical Society and Tenleytown Neighbors Association.

Schooner Sailing Adventure - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3 pm
Meet and end at entrance to Cantina Marina, 600 Water Street, SW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Circulator CW or Waterfront-SEU Metro station (Green line)
Reservations required: Online
Enjoy a unique and relaxing view of Washington, DC from the deck of a classic-rigged sailing ship! Sail aboard the 65-foot schooner “American Spirit” out of the Southwest Waterfront area. For more than two hundred years, this waterfront has been a working community and the center of the city as envisioned by Pierre L’Enfant. Learn about its vibrant history while sailing its shores. Led by Phil Weeks and Carl Cole and presented by the National Maritime Heritage Foundation.
Note: This cruise is only valid on September 19 and 20 and cannot be rescheduled due to weather cancellations.

Chinatown
Saturday, September 19
1 - 2:30 pm
Meet and end outside Chinatown Community Cultural Center, 616 H Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines)
Explore the history of the Chinatown area with local historian Alice Stewart. Learn why 19th century Chinese immigrants settled in Washington, DC’s old Downtown and how they worked to honor old cultures while embracing new. Presented by the Chinatown Community Cultural Center.

Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II 
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3:30 pm
Meet on northwest corner of Seventh and R Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Shaw-Howard U Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
End at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U Street, NW
Entertainment has long been the focus of central Shaw’s northern half – from the Howard Theater, where every star in the black entertainment pantheon performed, and the pool hall where Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington decided to become a musician, to two sites that hosted baseball teams. Highlights of this half- mile tour include a renovated movie theater building and the city’s first African American YWCA. Led by Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.

The National Mall: What the Memorials Don’t Tell You
Saturday, September 19
1 - 2:30 pm
Meet at the base of the Jefferson Memorial
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: L’Enfant Plaza Metro station (Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow lines)
End at FDR Memorial on the Tidal Basin
This tour of the Jefferson, George Mason, and FDR memorials may surprise those who think they know the iconic monuments. Inscriptions and sculptures tell a powerful story but so do partial quotations and historical omissions. This tour is part of the National Mall Conservancy’s new self-guided tour, America’s Struggle for Freedom. Led by Judy Scott Feldman and presented by The National Mall Conservancy.

The Sumner School and Its Lost Neighborhood
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3 pm
Meet and end outside Charles Sumner School Museum, 17th and M Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut North Metro station (Red line)
Museum archivist Hayden Wetzel leads a tour of the area around the old Sumner and Macgruder Schools, pointing out remnants of the community that once existed there. The tour also goes behind the scenes at the Sumner School Museum, which holds an extensive collection of historical materials from DC Public Schools. Presented by The Charles Sumner School Museum.

Tree Walk: Discover Capitol Hill - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
1 - 3 pm
Meet and end at Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Casey Trees invites you to discover the trees of one of Washington’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods - Capitol Hill. Learn about grand oaks, elms, and more that adorn landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol and which trees - “witness trees” - have seen it all. The four mile tour loop will include Folger and Garfield Parks and the Senate and House Gardens. Led by Carol Herwig and presented by Casey Trees.

At Home on Capitol Hill  - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Meet outside Eastern Market Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
Capitol Hill is one of the largest historic districts in the country filled with quaint row houses, leafy parks, shops and cafes, churches and schools. First developed during the late 1790s, it now contains the remains of a 1795 estate, a watering hole famous for its jazz singers, an alley that once teemed with 100 residents, and the beloved Eastern Market, considered by many to be the heart and soul of “The Hill.” Led by Dwane Starlin and presented by Cultural Tourism DC and Washington Walks.

History of Brookland
Saturday, September 19
1:30 - 3 pm
Meet and end inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
This is a two-mile survey tour relating Brookland’s history. It points out the homes of famous Brooklanders including Ralph Bunche, Laura Kinnan Rawlings, Sterling Brown, and Robert Weaver. Discover African American and Catholic influences throughout the neighborhood and stop at a Civil War fort and the Franciscan Monistary. Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by Brookland Tour Committee.

Spring Valley: World War I Munitions 
Saturday, September 19
1:30 - 3 pm
Meet and end at the corner of Nebraska Avenue and Rockwood Parkway, in front of AU’s Gray Hall
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Tenleytown-AU Metro station (Red line) then free AU shuttle to campus
Reservations required: Online
During World War I the American University Experiement Station became the birthplace of chemical warfare service as more than 1,200 scientists developed and tested toxic chemical warfare agents, deadly munitions, and powerful explosives. Learn about the history of AUES and the 16-year site cleanup of chemical contamination and weapons of mass destruction buried in Spring Valley. The one-mile tour is being presented by the Environmental Health Group.

U.S. Botanic Garden - Conservatory 
Saturday, September 19
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Meet and end inside Garden Court, U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Federal Center SW Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Reservations required: Online
What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanila, and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the U.S. Botanic Garden where you can connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You may see bananas and coffee ripening on the tree, watch the venus fly trap catch a meal, or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. Presented and led by the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Walking The Spirit of Black Foggy Bottom 
Saturday, September 19
1:30 - 4 pm
Meet on corner of 20th and G Streets, NW, on GWU Campus
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue and Orange lines)
End at 21st and H Streets, NW
Reservations required: Online
The one-mile tour examines 23 significant African American sites in Foggy Bottom and on GW’s campus. African Americans were once the predominant group in Foggy Bottom from the early 1800s to 1970. The tour will place these residents within the context of the overall significance that African Americans played in developing the nation’s capital. Led by Bernard Demczuk and presented by the George Washington University.

Gallaudet University 
Saturday, September 19
2 - 3 pm
Meet and end at Gallaudet University Visitors Center, EMG building, 800 Florida Avenue, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro station (Red line)
The world’s only university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students boasts lush landscaping and historic architecture on its 17-acre campus. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its victorian, modern, and 21st-century architecture. Presented and led by Gallaudet University Visitors Center Coordinator Brooke Budzinski and her student tour guides.
Note: This tour will be given in American Sign Language with a voice Interpreter.

Gay and Lesbian Capitol Hill
Saturday, September 19
2 - 3:30 pm
Meet outside Mr. Henry’s restaurant, Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: Eastern Market Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at 327 Seventh Street, SE
Reservations required: Online
Capitol Hill’s LGBT tour discusses the development of the club scene along Pennsylvania Avenue and Eighth Street, SE, the Metropolitan Community Church on Seventh Street, and the birth of women’s clubs. Highlights include the first gay “super” clubs, Lammas (the de-facto women’s center of its day), the Furies collective, and drag shows on Capitol Hill. Led by Kim Sescoe and presented by The Rainbow History Project.

Hillcrest & “East Washington Heights” 
Saturday, September 19
2 - 4 pm
Meet and end outside Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver Street, SE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Naylor Road Metro station (Green line) to #36 bus to Erie Street
Reservations required: Online
Discover stately Hillcrest, and adjacent Penn Branch, Dupont Park and Randle Highlands - named in Washington’s “Great Places to Live” (4/04)!  Tour a newly-updated “Green Home” and experience the history and varied architecture of this area that formerly comprised the upscale 19th Century development “East Washington Heights.” Led by WPFW 89.3 FM Latin Flavor host Jim Byers.
Note: Expect steep hills.

Historic Logan Circle
Saturday, September 19
2 - 4 pm
Meet and end by statue of General Logan in Logan Circle Park
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Dupont Circle Metro station (Red line), McPherson Square Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Few Washington neighborhoods have witnessed the dramatic change and breathtaking renaissance of Logan Circle, the city’s only unaltered Victorian residential district. After evolving from rural obscurity to an enclave of architectural splendor, it was home to wealthy white and later African-American residents. Its history includes the legacy of General John Logan and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethuneand today is home to the vibrant 14th Street corridor, which bustles with art galleries, professional theatres, and a cosmopolitan retail, restaurant, and bar scene. Tour is 1.5 miles long. Led by Tim Christensen and presented by the Logan Circle Community Association.

If This Street Could Talk: Eighth Street, SE from 1801 to 2008 
Saturday, September 19
2 - 3 pm
Meet outside escalator, Eastern Market Metro station plaza (Blue and Orange lines)
End Eighth and I Streets, SE, Marine Corps Barracks
Pierre L’Enfant spotted a perfect natural harbor on the east branch of the Potomac and placed a handsome boulevard, Eighth Street, SE to connect Pennsylvania Avenue to this harbor. This five block corridor reveals 200 years of history including the Lincoln assassination, the burning of the Navy Yard; riots; dance halls; and the story of the March King, John Phillip Sousa, who was born and became famous for his work here. Led by Sharon Bosworth and Amanda Edwards and presented by Barracks Row Main Street.

The United States Capitol Grounds - Olmsted Landscape Tour
 - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
2 - 3:30 pm
Meet outside the Library of Congress Jefferson Building, 1st Street and Independence Avenue, SE, on the south terrace above the sidewalk
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at 1st Street and Maryland Avenue, SW, across from the Botanic Garden
Reservations required: Online
Commissioned by Congress in 1874 to design the grounds of the Capitol, Frederick Law Olmsted created an innovative landscape, presenting the building to greatest visual effect while overcoming numerous design challenges. Explore the history and design of the Capitol grounds while learning about its intricate features: the Olmsted-designed marble terraces, brick Summerhouse, masterful stone and ironwork, and carefully crafted views and circulation paths. Tour is 1.5 miles. Presented by the National Association for Olmsted Parks and the United States Capitol Historical Society, and led by staff and volunteers of the USCHS.

Historic Tour at Twin Oaks Estate - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Saturday, September 19
2:30 - 3:30 pm
Meet and end at 34th Street and Woodley Road, NW
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: L4 bus from Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station (Red line)
Reservations required: Online
Twin Oaks, the largest privately owned estate in Washington DC, was built in 1888 by Gardiner Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society. The 26-room house features the early colonial (Georgian) Revival style.  From 1937 to 1978, Twin Oaks served as the official residence of Ambassadors of the Republic of China to the United States and today is private property of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Led and presented by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.

Black Georgetown Revisited 
Saturday, September 19
3 - 4:30 pm
Meet on the southwest corner of Wisconsin Avenue and K Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: 30, 31, 32, or 36 Metrobus
End at 29th and Q Streets, NW
Revisit Georgetown before 1940 – when one-third of the population was of African American descent. Learn about African American influence on Analostan Island (renamed Roosevelt Island) and the Whitehurst Freeway. Head up to “Herring Hill,” to hear stories of prominent citizens like the Peterson sisters who paved the way for Venus and Serena Williams and view several churces that once serviced a vibrant cultural enclave. Led in period costume by Noel Paige and presented by UC Tours.

History of Brookland
Saturday, September 19
3 - 4 pm
Meet and end inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Brookland-CUA Metro station (Red line)
This is a two-mile survey tour relating Brookland’s history. It points out the homes of famous Brooklanders including Ralph Bunche, Laura Kinnan Rawlings, Sterling Brown, and Robert Weaver. Discover African American and Catholic influences throughout the neighborhood and stop at a Civil War fort and the Franciscan Monistary. Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by Brookland Tour Committee.

Roads to Diversity: Adams Morgan Heritage Trail
Saturday, September 19
3 - 5 pm
Meet at Sign 1: 16th Street and Florida Avenue, NW
Go on a guided tour of Cultural Tourism DC's Roads to Diversity: Adams Morgan Heritage Trail. Led by Josh Gibson.

Southwest Washington and Waterfront Development 
Saturday, September 19
4 - 5:30 pm
Meet outside Waterfront-SEU Metro station (Green line)
End at L’Enfant Plaza Metro station (Green, Yellow, Orange, and Blue lines)
The two-mile tour of southwest Washington will uncover the maritime history, the impact of urban renewal of the 1960s, and the redevelopment plans for a neighborhood in transition. Visit projects under construction, such as Waterfront Station and Arena State as well as the waterfront and Washington’s historic Fish Market. Presented by Nina Albert, with the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development, and Elinor Bacon, developer of the Southwest Waterfront.

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SUPPORTERS

WalkingTown DC Fall Edition 2009 was made possible by a grant from the Humanities Council of Washington, DC.



Cultural Tourism DC also thanks the following organizations for their support:

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