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WalkingTown, DC Fall Edition 2007 |
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Location: Across the City
Join Cultural Tourism DC for more than 45 free walking tours (and a few bike and boat tours) in 18 neighborhoods across Washington, DC. Select from the schedule below!
Too much information? Check the overview schedule. Not enough? Email info@CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.
Would you like to volunteer for Walkingtown? Click here!
What you need to know:
- All tours are free.
- Reservations are not required, with the exception of the bike tours and a few others. Just show up!
- Consider taking Metrobus, Metrorail, or the Circulator. Most tours are readily available via public transportation.
- NEW! Bring your camera and enter our Walkingtown photo contest!
- Tours are held rain or shine.
- Need more info or tips to plan your day? Click here!
Special thanks to these premium WalkingTown, DC sponsors:


Anacostia by Bike - THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT!
9 am – 12 noon
Meet and end at the entrance to the Washington Fish and Seafood Market Place, 1100 Maine Avenue, SW
Reservations required: 202-661-7581 or reply@CulturalTourismDC.org
Experience the Anacostia River by bicycle with Emeka Moneme, director of the District Department of Transportation. Ride the route of the future Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to see Anacostia Park and RFK Stadium, while learning about the many projects that will soon transform the waterfront. Presented by the District Department of Transportation.
Exploring the Hill East
9 – 10 am
Meet and end outside Stadium-Armory Metro station (north exit)
You might not realize it, but the former DC General Hospital stands atop the banks of the Anacostia River. Learn how the hospital and its long-neglected and largely vacant 67-acre campus will be reconnected with Capitol Hill, Lincoln Park, and Kingman Park neighborhoods. Formerly called Reservation 13, the campus is now know as Hill East and will be transformed into a waterfront neighborhood with tree-lined streets, recreation trails, and memorial circles. Led by volunteers Glen Williamson and Nkosi Bradley and presented by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
History of Brookland
9 – 10:30 am
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Spies of Georgetown
9 – 11:30 am
Meet at the Southeast corner of Wisconsin Avenue and R Street, NW (in front of Georgetown Public Library)
End at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street, NW
Reservations required: 703-569-1875
We associate Georgetown with high-profile political figures, media moguls, and society leaders, but it also has a rich history of espionage and intrigue. We’ll discuss these tales of spies and covert operations as we walk through the narrow streets and past the stylish homes in this fashionable area. Led by professional guide Carol Bessette and presented by Spies of Georgetown Tour.
Scandals, Scoundrels & Scallywags: The Seamier Side of Georgetown
9:30 – 11 am
Meet along C&O Canal (Lock 3) at the intersection with 30th Street, NW (one block south of M Street) near the bust of William O. Douglas
End at the Potomac Street/C&O Canal Pedestrian Bridge, NW (at the rear of Dean & Deluca, 3276 M Street, NW)
1870s Georgetown wasn’t 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. Who knows, you may run into some colorful characters from the era along the way! 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.
Barry Farm, Anacostia
10 am – 12 noon
Meet and end at Anacostia Metro station
As the Civil War ended, thousands of homeless ex-slaves flocked to DC. General Oliver O. Howard of the Bureau of Refugees, Freemen, and Abandoned Lands, and the local Barry Family secretly purchased more than 370 acres of land to house them. This village, known as Barry Farm and eventually Hillsdale, became affluent and nationally known. Fredrick Douglass’s sons lived there, among other notables. Today the city is looking to make it one of its “new communities.” Led by volunteer Kalem Umrani and presented by the Barry Farm Residence Council.
Capitol Hill
10 am – 12 noon
Meet outside Eastern Market Metro station
End at Eastern Market, Seventh Street and North Carolina Avenue, SE
Most people think of Capitol Hill as a place of business, law, and politics. But “the Hill” is much more. Find out who has called Capitol Hill home over the years. Spot the contemporary row houses among the authentic Victorian ones, but plan to snack when we end at the ever-popular Eastern Market. Led by professional guide Sarah Fischer and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
Constitution Avenue: Past and Present
10 am – 1 pm
Meet at the 17th Street entrance to the World War II Memorial in front of the announcement stone
End at Constitution Avenue and 12th Street, NW
Wars, presidents, parks, and canals have something in common. Lace up your favorite walking shoes and join National Park Service Rangers on a tour of Constitution Avenue, one of the significant avenues of the nation’s capital. Learn the history of the area and view some of the landmarks that make DC a city for all ages. Led by National Park Service Park Rangers and presented by the National Park Service.
DC EcoTour – Green Buildings
10 am – 1 pm
Meet outside the National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, NW
End at United Nations Environment Program Building, 1707 H Street, NW
Reservations required: 202-686-9813 or www.WholenessforHumanity.com
Tour local LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified and/or environmentally healthy green buildings, and discover simple yet effective actions that reduce energy consumption and climate change emissions. Learn how to improve the quality of our air, water, and land, utilizing green building principles. We’ll stop at the National Geographic Society, Blake Real Estate’s 1425 K Street Green Roof, United Nations Environment Program, and end with a free lunch at carbon-neutral Java
Green café. Led by volunteer Greg Drury, executive dirctor, Wholeness for Humanity.
Down by the River: Walk the Anacostia Waterfront and Poplar Point
10 – 11 am
Meet and end at Anacostia Metro station at the Kiss & Ride/parking garage exit Poplar Point, currently 110 acres located along the Anacostia River, across from the Washington Navy Yard, represents an outstanding opportunity to reconnect east side residents with the river. Learn how Poplar Point will be the site of a new 70-acre waterfront park and residential and retail development, featuring state-of-the-art ecological restoration, two federal memorials, historical attractions, and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Led by volunteer Diane Sullivan and presented by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
Embassy Row (check out the preview at dcist!)
10 am – 12 noon
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station (Dupont South exit by the pay phones)
End at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street, NW
This walk features some of the most impressive turn-of-the-century residences in the city (today, most house embassies and consulates). Imagine fabulous wealth, extravagant parties, and scandals of the past while glimpsing the life led by Washington’s diplomatic community today. The walk concludes at The Phillips Collection, a private mansion-turned-art-museum. Led by professional guide Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
From Slavery to Freedom in Adams Morgan
10 – 11:30 am
Meet at the SunTrust Bank Plaza at 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW, next to the Saturday Farmer’s Market
End at Walter Pierce Park, between Calvert Street and Adams Mill Road
At the start of the Civil War, DC was a slave holding city and Adams Morgan was a cattle farm worked by enslaved African Americans. Visit the site of the farm’s manor house in Kalorama Park, and learn about one woman’s attempt to escape slavery and what happened to her family after emancipation. In Walter Pierce Park, we’ll discuss the Howard University archeological survey of DC’s largest African American cemetery following the Civil War. Led by volunteers Mary Belcher and Eddie Becker and presented by Kalorama Citizens Association.
Georgetown
10 am – 12 noon
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station (Dupont South exit by the pay phones)
End at Francis Scott Key Park in Georgetown
Georgetown is famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree. But this remarkably intact example of a complete historic town also boasts house museums and gardens, residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Walk back in time along quaint, tree-lined cobblestone streets. Led by professional guide Dwane Starlin and presented by Washington Walks.
Note:This is a popular tour!
Get Back to your Roots: US National Arboretum
10 am – 12 noon
Meet and end in the circle in front of the Administration Building near 24th and R Streets, NE
Take a hike - through woods, meadows, and world-class gardens! Discover the history and botanical flora of the Arboretum on this two-hour, five-mile hike through its 446 acres. Led by Curator Lynn Batdorf and presented by the US National Arboretum staff.
More than Monuments
10 – 11 am
Meet at the base of the Washington Monument on the east side (facing the Capitol and 15th Street)
End at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Through little-known anecdotes and quirky facts, this tour brings to life the events and people who inspired the monuments. Part performers and part professors, the licensed guides are recent college graduates who are passionate about American history. Their sometimes irreverent and always interesting romp holds the attention of even the squirmiest toddler. The perfect solution for anyone who slept through eighth grade history class! Led by professional guide Ben Hindman and presented by City By Foot Tour Company.
Old Mount Pleasant
10 am – 12 noon
Meet outside Columbia Heights Metro station, exit east side of 14th Street
End at Lamont Park (Mount Pleasant, 17th, and Lamont Streets)
With its main street, town square, and distinct boundaries, Mount Pleasant still feels like the village it once was. But more than atmosphere links this neighborhood to its 19th-century roots. A pre-Civil War era mansion and a handsome collection of village-era houses remain. Walk Mount Pleasant’s original street grid while visiting some of the neighborhood’s oldest buildings and the site of its village center. Led by Cultural Tourism DC staff member Mara Cherkasky.
Rediscovering Kingman and Heritage Islands
10 – 11 am
Meet and end in parking lot # 6 at RFK Stadium
Kingman Island and the adjacent Heritage Island, located near RFK Stadium, are envisioned as a publicly accessible, 45-acre natural park that reconnects the neighborhood and all District residents with the natural wonders of the Anacostia River. Led by volunteers Melissa McKnight and Howard Ways and presented by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
Roundshots to Rockets: A Sail on the American Spirit - THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT!
10 am – 12 noon
Meet and end at the Gangplank Marina at 600 Water Street, SW (American Spirit is a green-hulled schooner right next to Gangplank Marina’s main gate)
Reservations required: 202-661-7581 or reply@CulturalTourismDC.org
Enjoy a sail on the schooner American Spirit while learning the maritime, military, and naval histories of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Led by volunteer Carl Cole and presented by the National Maritime Heritage Foundation.
Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part I
10 am – 12:30 pm
Meet at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and Mount Vernon Place, NW
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, once woods and a few farms. Notable historic figures lived and worked in lower central Shaw, including explorer John Wesley Powell, African American US Senator Blanche K. Bruce, and historian Carter G. Woodson. Led by volunteer Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.
What’s Going On: Marvin Gaye Park (check out the preview at dcist!)
10 – 11:30 am
Meet at Marvin Gaye Park, corner of Division and Foote Streets, NE
End at Minnesota Avenue Metro station
Follow the path of Marvin Gaye’s earliest music and life through the newly re-named Marvin Gaye Park. See the site of his boyhood home, the creek where he played and sang, and the former nightclub where he first performed professionally. The tour includes other stories of the stream valley: the only amusement park built inside DC, the nature sanctuary where Martin Luther King gave a speech in 1961, and the place where Lady Bird Johnson kicked off the urban environmental movement. Led by volunteer Steve Coleman and presented by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.
Before Harlem, There Was U Street (check out the preview at dcist!)
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Meet and end outside U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station (13th Street exit)
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 professional guide Amy Kunz and presented by Washington Walks and Cultural Tourism DC.
Note: This is a popular tour!
Capitol Riverfront
10:30 am – 12 noon
Meet and end outside Navy Yard Metro station (intersection of New Jersey Avenue and M Street, SE)
Between the Anacostia River and the US Capitol Building, alongside construction of the Nationals’ ballpark, a new cityscape is emerging based on a unique nautical history: the Capitol Riverfront. Explore the industrial buildings of the Yards where the Navy once produced ships’ instruments and ammunition. Move on to the Washington Canal and the new environmentally sustainable Canal Park, then visit the historic Pump Station that previously supplied power to the Capitol. End the tour with a boat ride along the river. Led by volunteer Michael Stevens and presented by Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District.
History of Brookland
10:30 am – 12 noon
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Chevy Chase DC
11 – 11:45 am
Meet and end outside the Avalon Theater, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW (one block south of Chevy Chase Circle)
Tour some of the older, historic sections 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.
Embassy Row (check out the preview at dcist!)
11 am – 1 pm
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station (Dupont South exit by the pay phones)
End at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street, NW
This walk features some of the most impressive turn-of-the-century residences in the city (today, most house embassies and consulates). Imagine fabulous wealth, extravagant parties, and scandals of the past while glimpsing the life led by Washington’s diplomatic community today. The walk concludes at The Phillips Collection, a private mansion-turned-art-museum. Led by professional guide Chris Zarr and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
Before Harlem, There Was U Street (check out the preview at dcist!)
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Meet and end outside U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station (13th Street exit)
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 professional guide Phyllis Fleming and presented by Washington Walks and Cultural Tourism DC.
Note: This is a popular tour!
History of Brookland
12 noon – 1:30 pm
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Mount Vernon Triangle Development Tour
12 noon – 1:30 pm
Meet and end at Mount Vernon Square, intersection of Eighth and K Streets, NW
Learn about the history of this old neighborhood being rebuilt on the east end of downtown – including the Northern Liberties Riot, Convention Hall, and the early development of Shaw. This tour will feature remaining historic buildings, a discussion of the market forces that are leading the renaissance, and a visit to new condos and office buildings. Led by volunteer Bill McLeod, executive director, Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.
Artist G. Byron Peck’s Shaw/U Street Mural Tour
1 – 2:30 pm
Meet outside the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station (13th Street exit)
End at Peck’s Dupont Circle mural, Connecticut and Florida Avenues, NW
Tour Shaw and Dupont Circle in the company of beloved DC artist G. Byron Peck, and get an eyeful of some of his best-known murals. Begin by looking back on U Street’s history when you consider the Duke Ellington mural. Then consider some of the cultures that contribute to this neighborhood’s character, evident in the Black Family Reunion and Mayan murals. Finally, turn your attention to the area’s architectural legacy at the Dupont Circle mural.
Capitol Hill: A Half-Century of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgendered History
1 – 2:30 pm
Meet in front of Mr. Henry’s, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
End at 321 Seventh Street, SE
Capitol Hill’s GLBT tour discusses the development of the club scene along Pennsylvania Avenue, 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 volunteer Kim Sescoe and presented by The Rainbow History Project.
Congressional Cemetery
1 – 1:45 pm
Meet and end at E and 18th Streets, SE
Begin outside the historic wrought iron gates and step back into the earliest days of the Federal City with the tombs of city founders such as William Prout and Griffith Coombe. The tour includes tombs of noted Americans from the 20th century, such as John Philip Sousa and J. Edgar Hoover, in addition to the 9/11 Memorial Grove. Led by Joyce Palmer and presented by Congressional Cemetery.
More than Monuments
1 – 2:15 pm
Meet at the base of the Washington Monument on the east side (facing the Capitol and 15th Street)
End at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
Through little-known anecdotes and quirky facts, this tour brings to life the events and people who inspired the monuments. Part performers and part professors, the licensed guides are recent college graduates who are passionate about American history. Their sometimes irreverent and always interesting romp holds the attention of even the squirmiest toddler. The perfect solution for anyone who slept through eighth grade history class! Led by professional guide Ben Hindman and presented by City By Foot Tour Company.
Shaw: Where DC Comes Together, Part II
1 – 3:30 pm
Meet at the northwest corner of Seventh and R Streets, NW
End at Grape Legs, 1903 Ninth 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 Duke Ellington decided to become a musician, to two sites that hosted baseball teams. Highlights include a renovated movie theater building and the city’s first African American YWCA. Led by volunteer Alexander M. Padro and presented by Shaw Main Streets.
Temperance Tour (check out the preview at dcist!)
1 – 4 pm
Meet at the Cogswell Temperance Fountain, Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
End outside the Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S Street, NW
Visit sites related to the anti-alcohol movement that led to Prohibition. Starting at the Cogswell Temperance Fountain, we’ll continue to the site of the Anti-Saloon League’s national kickoff meeting in 1895. We’ll end outside the former home of Woodrow Wilson, who was president during the start of Prohibition. Join us afterwards as we toast the end of Prohibition at the nearby Brickskeller. Bring a Metro card. Led by The Prohibition Hangover author and volunteer Garrett Peck.
Wild Washington
1 – 4:30 pm
Meet at the entrance of the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW
End at The Old Post Office Pavilion (Rear Plaza), 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Reservations required: 202-842-BIKE or www.bikethesites.com
Bike the Sites takes you beyond the Washington’s political party animals with help from Wild Washington Animal Sculptures A to Z by Nancy Arbuthnot and Cathy Abramson. Discover the city’s many animal sculpture with a tour starting on the foot at The National Zoo. The tour continues by bike through Rock Creek Park, Dupont Circle, and the National Mall. Led by professional guide Carl Airhart and presented by Bike the Sites.
Capitol Hill
1:30 – 3:30 pm
Meet outside Eastern Market Metro station
End at Eastern Market, Seventh Street and North Carolina Avenue, SE
Most people think of Capitol Hill as a place of business, law, and politics. But “the Hill” is much more. Find out who has called Capitol Hill home over the years. Spot the contemporary row houses among the authentic Victorian ones, but plan to snack when we end at the ever-popular Eastern Market. Led by professional guide Dwane Starlin and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
Georgetown
1:30 – 3:30 pm
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station (Dupont South exit by the pay phones)
End at Francis Scott Key Park in Georgetown
Georgetown is famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree. But this remarkably intact example of a complete historic town also boasts house museums and gardens, residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Walk back in time along quaint, tree-lined cobblestone streets. Led by professional guide Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
History of Brookland
1:30 – 3 pm
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Before Harlem, There Was U Street (check out the preview at dcist!)
2 – 4 pm
Meet and end outside U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro station (13th Street exit)
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 professional guide Sandra Southerland and presented by Washington Walks and Cultural Tourism DC.
Note: This is a popular tour!
From Slavery to Freedom in Adams Morgan
2 – 3:30 pm
Meet at the SunTrust Bank Plaza at 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW, next to the Saturday Farmer’s Market
End at Walter Pierce Park, between Calvert Street and Adams Mill Road
At the start of the Civil War, DC was a slave holding city, and Adams Morgan was a cattle farm worked by enslaved African Americans. Visit the site of the farm’s manor house in Kalorama Park, and learn about one woman’s attempt to escape slavery and what happened to her family after emancipation. In Walter Pierce Park, we’ll discuss the Howard University archeological survey of DC’s largest African American cemetery following the Civil War. Led by volunteers Mary Belcher and Eddie Becker and presented by Kalorama Citizens Association.
Barracks Row Revitalization Tour
3 – 4:30 pm
Meet and end at Eastern Market Metro plaza, Eighth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Winding down Eighth Street to the historic Marine Barracks and Navy Yard Gate, we’ll see old buildings filled once again with vibrant shops and taverns. Learn about merchants who have helped revitalize this historic corridor now known as Barracks Row, and the economic conditions that led to the decline – and recent rise – of the area. Stick around for the annual Barracks Row street festival. Led by Bill McLeod, former executive director, Barracks Row Main Street.
Georgetown
3 – 5 pm
Meet outside Dupont Circle Metro station (Dupont South exit by the pay phones)
End at Francis Scott Key Park in Georgetown
Georgetown is famous for its shopping, dining, nightlife, and Kennedy pedigree. But this remarkably intact example of a complete historic town also boasts house museums and gardens, residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Walk back in time along quaint, tree-lined cobblestone streets. Led by professional guide Christy Pachucki and presented by Washington Walks.
Note: This is a popular tour!
History of Brookland
3 – 4:30 pm
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Woodlawn Cemetery
3 – 4 pm
Meet and end at the front gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, 4611 Benning Road, SE (Benning Road and C Street, SE, three blocks south of the Benning Road Metro station)
Woodlawn Cemetery was founded in 1895 as a racially integrated commercial venture, but over the years it became a favorite burial site for prominent African American Washingtonians. Learn of the challenges and possibilities facing Woodlawn, as the cemetery slowly recovers its earlier beauty after decades of decline. See the graves of Reconstruction-era congressmen and local civic leaders, the monument of the Colored Union Benevolent Association, and the hillside holding vault. Best to wear good shoes and long pants (for the briars). Led by volunteer Hayden Watzel and presented by Woodlawn Cemetery.
Houses of Worship in the Old Downtown
3:30 – 5 pm
Meet at the Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh Street, NW, at the corner of Seventh and I (Eye) Streets
End at the original Adas Israel Synagogue, 701 Third Street, NW
German immigrants of all faiths lived and worshipped in the Old Downtown. Where did they worship? Visit Greater New Hope Baptist Church (formerly Washington Hebrew Congregation); St. Mary, Mother of God Roman Catholic Church; and the original Adas Israel Synagogue. The tour will highlight German-speaking immigrant connections, congregation leaders, and the services these churches continue to provide today. Led by professional guide Alice Stewart and presented by the Goethe-Institut.
History of Brookland
4 – 5:30 pm
Meet inside St. Anthony’s School cafeteria, 3400 12th Street, NE
End at Brookland Metro station
This tour of charming central Brookland offers insights into the development of this one-time trolley suburb and its rich heritage. Discover neighborhood architectural styles and the work of architects such as John Joseph Early, Howard Mackay, and Hilyard Robinson. See the homes of famous residents such as Ralph Bunche, Justine Ward, and Pearl Bailey (or in some cases, the sites where their homes once stood). Led by volunteer residents of Greater Brookland and presented by the Brookland Tour Committee.
Woodlawn Cemetery
4 – 5 pm
Meet and end at the front gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, 4611 Benning Road, SE (Benning Road and C Street, SE, three blocks south of the Benning Road Metro station)
Woodlawn Cemetery was founded in 1895 as a racially integrated commercial venture, but over the years it became a favorite burial site for prominent African American Washingtonians. Learn of the challenges and possibilities facing Woodlawn, as the cemetery slowly recovers its earlier beauty after decades of decline. See the graves of Reconstruction-era congressmen and local civic leaders, the monument of the Colored Union Benevolent Association, and the hillside holding vault. Best to wear good shoes and long pants (for the briars). Led by volunteer Hayden Watzel and presented by Woodlawn Cemetery.
Washington Waterfront
4:30 – 6 pm
Meet outside Waterfront/SEU Metro station
End at Gangplank Marina, 600 Water Street, SW
Since Pierre L’Enfant drafted Washington’s first city plans, Southwest has been home to a diverse community that has included wealthy speculators, free blacks, and European immigrants – but that just covers part of the story. What’s really fascinating about the waterfront is how urban renewal brought wholesale change in the mid-20th century, and how the neighborhood reinvented itself. Led by professional guide Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks.
Woodlawn Cemetery
5 – 6 pm
Meet and end at the front gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, 4611 Benning Road, SE (Benning Road and C Street, SE, three blocks south of the Benning Road Metro station)
Woodlawn Cemetery was founded in 1895 as a racially integrated commercial venture, but over the years it became a favorite burial site for prominent African American Washingtonians. Learn of the challenges and possibilities facing Woodlawn, as the cemetery slowly recovers its earlier beauty after decades of decline. See the graves of Reconstruction-era congressmen and local civic leaders, the monument of the Colored Union Benevolent Association, and the hillside holding vault. Best to wear good shoes and long pants (for the briars). Led by volunteer Hayden Watzel and presented by Woodlawn Cemetery.
Lincoln Assassination
7 – 8:45 pm
Meet at the Andrew Jackson Statue in Lafayette Square (north front of the White House)
End at Ford’s Theatre, Tenth and E Streets, NW
It was a night that changed the history of a nation forever. Journey back in time to learn about the three-pronged attack designed to decapitate the U.S. Government. Shrouded in mystery, intrigue, and conspiracy, the assassination of our 16th president has fascinated Americans for 142 years. Come along on this family friendly tour to see the buildings and walk the streets where this great drama played out. Led by professional Richard Zielinski and presented by mobiletours.org.
SUPPORTERS
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, BB&T, BellArchitects, DC Circulator, and Metro. Media sponsors are WAMU-FM and www.dcist.com. Special thanks to Washington Walks.








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