Cultural Tourism DC

Programs

Encompassing all of Washington, DC, our initiatives promote awareness and appreciation for the capital’s rich culture and diverse neighborhoods.

Check the below for a brief description of our work. To find out more, email us or call us at 202-661-7581.

Neighborhood Heritage Trail Program

CTdc's Neighborhood Heritage Trails use photography and history on poster-sized illustrated street signs to tell neighborhood stories. Check out these self-guided trails:

African American Heritage Trail

The African American Heritage Trail is currently available as a free 56-page guide (order your guide) or as an online database. The guide highlights 98 notable sites organized in 15 neighborhood walking or driving trails. The database features more than 100 additional sites.

To date, Cultural Tourism DC has marked 68 trail sites with colorful, explanatory plaques in an effort to create awareness of the city’s historically important buildings.

Passport DC

A two-week celebration of DC’s international culture, Passport DC offers open houses and cultural programming at Washington’s embassies and international centers.

WalkingTown, DC

WalkingTown, DC is a biannual event, held in spring and fall, featuring free walking tours in neighborhoods across Washington, DC.

Art on Call

With its Art on Call program, CTdc is working with 11 neighborhoods across the city to restore abandoned fire and police call boxes as community art. Completed boxes are currently on view in Mount Pleasant, Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Tenleytown, Sheridan/Kalorama, and Capitol Hill.

Citywide Cultural Promotions

CTdc collaborates with its member organizations to create citywide cultural promotions such as the Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration, which will take place January through April 2009, honoring the 16th president’s 200th birthday.

Community Programs

CTdc works in communities across the city, including U Street/Shaw, Anacostia, and the Latino community, to develop models for tying culture and heritage to economic development.

Visitor Information

CTdc creates brochures such as See DC Beyond the Monuments, focusing on attractions located in eleven Metro-accessible neighborhoods. Email or call 202-661-7581 to request a copy.

The website draws an average of 30,000 unique visitors per month. More than 14,000 have subscribed to the weekly Events Update, a free e-calendar of events, which presents an overview of cultural events for the week to come every Wednesday.

Member Services

Cultural Tourism DC is a powerful resource for its 200 arts, cultural, and neighborhood organizational members. Our members reap the benefits from CTdc's creative and collaborative member services and programs, which include regular networking opportunities.