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WalkingTown DC Fall Edition 2009 - Detailed Schedule: Sunday |
Saturday, September 19, 2009 - Sunday, September 20, 2009
Location: Across the City
It's WalkingTown DC weekend! Join Cultural Tourism DC for more than 100 free walking tours (and a few bike tours) in 18 neighborhoods across Washington, DC.
Are you a fan of WalkingTown DC? Become a Friend of WalkingTown DC and support this semi-annual event!
- Too much information? Check the Sunday overview schedule.
- See Sunday morning tours.
- See Sunday afternoon tours.
- To make reservations for specific tours, click here.
- Return to the WalkingTown DC Fall Edition 2009 main page.
Special thanks to our supporters:



MORNING TOURS
Constitution Gardens, Artificial Ecosystems ![]()
Sunday, September 20
10 am - 12 noon
Meet and end at Toll Keepers Gate House on Constitution Avenue and 17th Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut West Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
Discover and identify the various wetlands, birds, and various animals that inhabit this man-made urban oasis. Presented by WashingTours & Events and led by Al Giraldi.
Georgetown - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
10 am - 12 noon
Meet in park at 28th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (next to gas station)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), Circulator Bus
End at Francis Scott Key Park
Reservations required: Online
A walk through Georgetown is a voyage through time: 200-year-old mansions and their eccentric owners, fortunes won and lost, Federal and Victorian architecture, political intrigue, and urban renewal. Famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree, this example of a complete historic town also boasts wonderful museums and gardens. Led by Amy Lunz and presented by Washington Walks.
H Street Alley Exploration ![]()
Sunday, September 20
10 am - 1 pm
Meet outside New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U, M Street exit (Red line)
End at the 1400 block of H Street, NE
This tour traces the development of the H Street neighborhood along the railroad, and discusses how alleys became locations for stables, industry storage, and housing. The tour stops at two occupied alley dwellings. Led by Richard Layman and presented by Citizens Planning Coalition, Frozen Tropics weblog, and Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space weblog.
Kenilworth Aquatic Garden Tour ![]()
Sunday, September 20
10 - 11 am
Meet and end at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden Visitor Center, 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: Deanwood Metro station (Orange line)
Learn how one man’s hobby transformed the tidal wetland of the Anacostia River into a dynamic commercial nursery specializing in water lilies and other aquatic plants. Explore the cultivated and natural landscapes that make this hidden garden oasis an interesting place to visit year round. Led by Alexis Gelb and presented by National Park Service.
Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Scandals, Scoundrels, & Scallywags: The Seamier Side of Georgetown
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Sunday, September 20
10 11:30 am
Meet at C&O Canal Lock 3, intersection with 30th Street, NW (near the bust of William O. Douglas)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines); Circulator Bus (K Street Corridor); 31, 32, 36, 38B Metrobus
End at Potomac Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
1870s Georgetown wasn’t always known for its boutiques, restaurants, and celebrity homes. Join tour guide Bill Brown, portraying Police Officer Ernest W. Brown, as he walks his beat and recalls crimes, accidents, and homicides in lower Georgetown. Beginning his career as a patrolman in Georgetown in 1896, Ernest W. Brown was the first MPDC officer to rise through the ranks to become superintendent of the DC Police Department in 1932.
Please note: This route is not handicapped accessible.
The Battle that Saved Washington
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
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 United States Capitol Grounds - Olmstead Landscape Tour
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
10 am - 11:30 am
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.
Tree Walk: Discover Capitol Hill
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
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 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.
Village in the City: Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail 
Sunday, September 20
10 am - 12 noon
Meet at Sign 1: 16th and Mount Pleasant Streets, NW
Go on a tour of Cultural Tourism DC's Village in the City: Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail. Led by Mara Cherkasky.
Before Harlem, There Was U Street
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 19
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Meet and end outside U St/African Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station, 13th Street exit
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.
U.S. Botanic Garden - National Garden ![]()
Sunday, September 20
10:30 - 11:30 am
Meet and end at Terrace Gate to National Garden, located at NW corner of the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Federal Center 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: This is an outdoor tour. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Tour is cancelled if it rains.
Blagden Alley and Naylor Court ![]()
Sunday, September 20
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 inside Blagden Alley, 10th and M Streets, NW
The two block tour explores 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.
Gallaudet University ![]()
Sunday, September 20
11 am - 12 noon
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.
At Home on Capitol Hill
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Meet outside Eastern Market Metro station
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 David Kaplan and presented by Cultural Tourism DC and Washington Walks.
Historic Chevy Chase DC
Sunday, September 20
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Meet and end outside the Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW (one block south of Chevy Chase Circle)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Friendship Heights Metro station (Red line)
Tour the historic areas of Chevy Chase DC, including residential and commercial structures along the Connecticut Avenue corridor. Led by volunteer Keene Taylor, Jr. and presented by Historic Chevy Chase, DC, Inc.
Go back to Sunday morning tours.
AFTERNOON TOURS
History of Brookland
Sunday, September 20
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
Sunday, September 20
12 noon - 3 pm
Meet at Cogswell Temperance Fountain, 7th 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 ![]()
Sponsored by Boston Properties
Sunday, September 20
12 noon - 1 pm
Meet and end at in front of 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.
Kingman Island: From a Theme Park to Parklands ![]()
Sunday, September 20
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Kingman Island entrance gate near the corner of Oklahoma and Benning Road, NE. Directions can be found 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 Tara Comstock-Green and presented by Kingman Island Environmental Education.
Note: Please wear walking shoes and bug repellant. The 1.5-mile trail is flat and fairly easy to navigate.
The Pleasures and Work of Immigrants in the Old Downtown
Sunday, September 20
1 - 2:30 pm
Meet outside Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines)
End near the Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines)
Just as immigrants do today, 19th century German and other immigrant families had to work hard and make many adaptations to survive and to thrive in their new country. But evidence in this neighborhood shows that they also had many outlets for pleasure. Learn about the plumber who sang with a German choir, about the restaurant proprietor who was crowned “Schützenkönig” (King of Marksmen) at a shooting match, and about business as entertainment. Led by Alice Stewart, local historian, and presented by the Goethe-Institut.
Georgetown - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
1 - 3 pm
Meet in park at 28th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (next to the gas station)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), Circulator
End at Francis Scott Key Park
Reservations required: Online
A walk through Georgetown is a voyage through time: 200-year-old mansions and their eccentric owners, fortunes won and lost, Federal and Victorian architecture, political intrigue, and urban renewal. Famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree, this example of a complete historic town also boasts wonderful museums and gardens. Led by Amy Lunz and presented by Washington Walks.
Schooner Sailing Adventure - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
1 - 3:30 pm
Meet at the entrance gate of 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 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.
History before History: The Geologic Saga of Washington, DC - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 4:30 pm
Meet and end in small park across from Harvard Towers apartment building, 1845 Harvard Street, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station (Red line) or Columbia Heights Metro station (Green and Yellow lines)
Reservations required: Online
Go back in time half a billion years before DC was a city we know today. It was the bottom of an ancient ocean, the center of a mountain range, a magma chamber, and a river in which dinosaurs swam. Learn the geological story of the landscape by visiting rock outcrops in Adams Morgan and Rock Creek Park on this two-mile tour. Led by Callan Bentley, assistant professor of geology at Northern Virginia Community College.
History of Brookland
Sunday, September 20
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.
In the Shadow of the Dome ![]()
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Meet outside the Capitol South Metro station
Reservations required: Online
Travel around Washington’s most famous architectural icon, the US Capitol, and the buildings of America’s legislative and judicial branches of government. You will discover that “Capitol Hill” does indeed describe a rise above the city and that its leafy green setting features historic trees, fountains, outdoor sculpture, and even a grotto. The Library of Congress, U.S. Botanic Garden, and U.S. Supreme Court are all stops, as is the home of Alice Paul, who worked tirelessly to guarantee American women the right to vote. Led by Andrew Clark and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This walk does not include an interior tour of the U.S. Capitol.
Lincoln and the Civil War in Foggy Bottom ![]()
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Meet and end outside Foggy Bottom Metro station, 23rd and I Streets NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
2009 marks the bicentennial of President Lincoln’s birth. This three-quarter mile tour focuses on sites associated with the 16th president and members of his cabinet. Highlights include a house where Secretary of State William Seward lived, a hospital visited by Mary Lincoln, and a site where John Wilkes Booth recruited a co-conspirator in the plot to assassinate Lincoln. Led by Burrus M. Carnahan and presented by The Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia.
Spring Valley: World War I Munitions ![]()
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 3 pm
Meet and end on 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 the AU 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
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Meet and end inside the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory at Garden Court, 100 Maryland Avenue, SW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Federal Center 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 ![]()
Sponsored by Boston Properties
Sunday, September 20
1:30 - 4 pm
Meet on corner of 20th and G Streets, NW, GWU Campus
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station (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.
Historic Logan Circle
Sunday, September 20
2 - 4 pm
Meet and end at statue of General Logan in Logan Circle Park
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Dupont Circle Metro station (Red line) or 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 ![]()
Sunday, September 20
2 - 3 pm
Meet outside Eastern Market Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at 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.
On the Edges of Embassy Row: The Islamic Center and Montrose Park
Sunday, September 20
2 - 3:30 pm
Meet and end outside the Islamic Center, 2551 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Dupont Circle Metro station, N Metrobus Massachusetts Avenue
Visit several sites on the northern end of Embassy Row on Massachusetts Avenue then cut through a beautiful slice of Rock Creek Park called Montrose and Dumbarton Oaks Parks. Led by Hayden M. Wetzel.
Note: To enter the Islamic Center women must have arms, legs, and head covered (long sleeves, pants, and head scarf); men cannot wear shorts.
Open the Door to Lincoln's Washington
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
2 - 3:30 pm
Meet at the Jackson statue in Lafayette Park, 16th and H Streets, NW
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Farragut West Metro station (Blue and Orange lines), Metro Center Metro station (Blue, Orange, and Red lines)
End at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street, NW
Reservations required: Online
Take a step back in time to visit President Lincoln’s Washington. See where Lincoln lived and worshiped and learn how his faith helped shape the Emancipation Proclamation. Visit the site of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball and see where he was assassinated. Led by June Stafford and presented by June’s Tours, LLC.
The United States Capitol Grounds - Olmsted Landscape Tour
- THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
2 - 3:30 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, 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.
I Heart AU: A Walking Tour of American University ![]()
Sunday, September 20
2:30 - 3:30 pm
Meet outside Ward Circle Building, Nebraska Avenue and Ward Circle, NW
Nearest Metro/Metrobus: Tenleytown-AU Metro station (Red line)
End at American University, 2200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Reservations required: Online
Although one of the leading universities in the DC area, American University is rarely featured on tours or tourist maps. This tour will explore the surrounding neighborhood of this historic university and its beautiful campus grounds. Come and discover why so many students (of all ages) choose to go to AU. This walk is two to three miles long. Presented by WashingTours & Events and led by Jessica Llewellyn.
Georgetown - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sunday, September 20
3 - 5 pm
Meet in park at 28th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (next to the gas station)
End at Francis Scott Key Park
Reservations required: Online
A walk through Georgetown is a voyage through time: 200-year-old mansions and their eccentric owners, fortunes won and lost, Federal and Victorian architecture, political intrigue, and urban renewal. Famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree, this example of a complete historic town also boasts wonderful museums and gardens. Led by Christine Zarr and presented by Washington Walks.
History of Brookland
Sunday, September 20
3 - 4:30 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.
American Symbols: U.S. Capitol and the National Mall ![]()
Sunday, September 20
3 - 5 pm
Meet outside Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange line)
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Capitol South Metro station (Blue and Orange line)
End at Grant Memorial at First Street on the National Mall
Explore the history and evolving meanings of the symbols of American government - the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, and National Mall. Learn about L’Enfant’s original intentions for the capital city, the evolution of the Capitol from 1793 through the Civil War, and the McMillan Commission’s 1902 redesign of the Mall. What did the designers intend to say about American and how did the message change over time? Do these symbols still have a message relevant to our day? This tour is one mile long. Led by Hilary Russell and presented by the National Coalition to Save Our Mall.
Black Georgetown Revisited ![]()
Sunday, September 20
3 - 4:30 pm
Meet on southwest corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Water 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.
Obamarama Power Trip - THIS TOUR IS FULL
Sponsored by M&T Bank
Sunday, September 20
4 - 5:45 pm
Meet at Freedom Plaza, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW opposite National Theatre
Nearest Metrorail/Metrobus: Federal Triangle Metro station (Blue and Orange lines)
End at Lafayette Square, 16th and H Streets, NW
Reservations required: Online
Where were you on Inauguration Day? Inspired by the book, The Presidential Plot, join author Paul A. Costello as he walks the inauguration route and hear stories that have inspired the Obama presidency. Presented by WashingTours & Events and led by Paul A. Costello.
In the Shadow of the Dome ![]()
Sunday, September 20
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Meet outside the Capitol South Metro station
Reservations required: Online
Travel around Washington’s most famous architectural icon, the U.S. Capitol, and the buildings of America’s legislative and judicial branches of government. You will discover that “Capitol Hill” does indeed describe a rise above the city and that its leafy green setting features historic trees, fountains, outdoor sculpture, and even a grotto. The Library of Congress, U.S. Botanic Garden, and U.S. Supreme Court are all stops, as is the home of Alice Paul, who worked tirelessly to guarantee American women the right to vote. Led by Mary Anne Hoffman and Nicole Pearo and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This walk does not include an interior tour of the U.S. Capitol.
Go back to Sunday afternoon tours.
Go back to Sunday morning tours.
Return to the WalkingTown DC Fall Edition 2009 main page.
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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