A neighborhood that began as an elite suburb on the high ground above Washington has since hosted every group of people that ever influenced Washington’s cultural life. This story and many more are told on Cultural Tourism DC’s Cultural Convergence: Columbia Heights Heritage Trail. On this self-guided walking tour, 19 poster-sized street signs combine storytelling, photography, and maps to lead residents and visitors through old and new Columbia Heights, introducing the people who changed the world with technology, ideas, literature, laws, and leadership.

The Columbia Heights Heritage Trail’s official unveiling and neighborhood celebration will take place Saturday, October 24. Councilmembers Jim Graham and Mary Cheh will join Cultural Tourism DC and the Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Working Group for the 1 pm ceremony on Civic Plaza (14th Street and Park Road, NW). WAMU’S Kojo Nnamdi will emcee and celebrated DC author Marita Golden will speak about how the Columbia Heights neighborhood influenced her writing.

Before the trail unveiling, Councilmembers Cheh and Graham will present a Council of the District of Columbia Resolution naming the Neighborhood Heritage Trails the District’s Official Walking Trails. The resolution recognizes the Heritage Trails, created in partnership with the District Department of Transportation, for “combining the elements of health and history. The Heritage Trails will enhance the quality of life for DC citizens,” providing “trail walkers with approximately two hours of gentle, outdoor exercise at the walker’s own pace and schedule.”

Councilmember Mary Cheh, who introduced the resolution, said, “The Heritage Trails connect our neighborhoods and provide healthy recreation opportunities for residents and visitors.” After the presentation and trail sign unveiling, all are invited to enjoy activities from 2 to 4 pm at Civic Plaza:

• Pick up free trail guides from Cultural Tourism DC's information table, along with Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield pedometers
• Sample food from Commonwealth Gastropub, The Heights, and Taqueria Distrito Federal
• Watch a Dance Institute of Washington hip hop performance
• Hear the Rhythm Accents jazz band
• Enjoy Ghanaian drummer Kweku
• Pick up discount cards for Marriott restaurants in Washington, and learn about Marriott’s first business, Hot Shoppe, which opened on 14th Street in 1927
• Meet Columbia Heights Day organizers and learn how to get involved in the annual festival

Visitors are invited to join officials, neighbors, working group members and Cultural Tourism DC staff in walking the Columbia Heights Heritage Trail. Guided tours of selected trail signs will leave from Civic Plaza at 2 pm.

Along the Heritage Trail route, walkers can expect to

• Meet working group members and architect Bill Bonstra stationed at signs to talk about the trail
• Visit Art + Media House
• Enjoy Dance Institute of Washington’s African and hip-hop performances
• Tour the Josephine Butler Parks Center’s 1927 mansion
• Explore Historic All Souls Church
• Take a guided tour of the Mexican Cultural Institute’s 1910 mansion and murals
• View newly restored pastoral murals in the lobby of the historic Tivoli Theatre. Refreshments are provided by Uptowner Cafe. Mural restoration courtesy of Horning Brothers.

With all that walking and entertainment, participants will want discounted refreshments.

• CommonWealth Gastropub offers a free 1/2 pint or dessert with purchase of an entree
• Take a token from Civic Plaza Pollo Campero for free chicken
• Bring your Columbia Heights Heritage Trail guidebook or a coupon from Civic Plaza to Taqueria Distrito Federal for 20% off your bill.
• Bring your guidebook for a free 10 oz coffee at Columbia Heights Coffee
• Receive a 1/2 price bottle of wine with food purchase at Red Rocks Firebrick Pizzeria
• Wonderland offers free waffles, plus drink specials on Mimosas and Bloody Marys

“As Cultural Tourism DC marks its tenth anniversary in 2009, we are thrilled to celebrate the completion of our tenth Neighborhood Heritage Trail,” says Linda Harper, Cultural Tourism DC executive director. “This is a vibrant, exciting neighborhood, and we are happy to have worked with its residents to tell some amazing stories.”

Among the Heritage Trail highlights:

• The place where Marriott got its start
• The city’s “Latino Intelligence Center”
• The places where DC’s power brokers built their mansions overlooking the old city
• The venues where some of DC’s influential punk bands first performed for the public
• The streets that inspired some of the world’s most influential writers

Cultural Tourism DC began collaborating in 2007 with the Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Working Group to create the trail. Community residents led the effort to collect neighborhood stories and photographs, shaping the trail every step of the way.

Free guides will be available on Civic Plaza on October 24 as well as from merchants and institutions along the route. Instructions for downloading a free guidebook, or ordering one for $5 shipping and handling per guide, are available at www.CulturalTourismDC.org. A complete list of distribution points is found online as well.

The Columbia Heights Heritage Trail is easily accessed by taking Metro’s Green or Yellow lines to the Columbia Heights Metrorail station. Then it’s a one block walk north to Civic Plaza. Total Heritage Trail walking distance is 2.9 miles.

Cultural Convergence: Columbia Heights Heritage Trail is a project of Cultural Tourism DC, in collaboration with the Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Working Group. Design is by side view/Hannah Smotrich with map by Larry Bowring.

The District of Columbia Neighborhood Heritage Trails are funded by the District Department of Transportation, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Columbia Heights Heritage Trails is the tenth in the District of Columbia Neighborhood Heritage Trails series: Civil War to Civil Rights: Downtown Heritage Trail; City Within a City: Greater U Street Heritage Trail; Tour of Duty: Barracks Row Heritage Trail; River Farms to Urban Towers: Southwest Heritage Trail; Midcity at the Crossroads: Shaw Heritage Trail; Roads to Diversity: Adams Morgan Heritage Trail; Village in the City: Mount Pleasant Heritage Trail; Battleground to Community: Brightwood Heritage Trail; A Self-Reliant People: Deanwood Heritage Trail. For more information about District of Columbia Neighborhood Heritage Trails, check www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.

About Cultural Tourism DC:

Cultural Tourism DC is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 230 culture, heritage, and community organizations throughout the nation’s capital. We help metro-area residents and visitors experience Washington’s authentic culture and heritage. For more information, visit www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.

About Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Working Group:

The Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Working Group is a diverse coalition of neighborhood residents, business owners, activists, historians, and others organized to develop and support the Columbia Heights Heritage in collaboration with Cultural Tourism DC.

Columbia Heights Heritage Trail Supporters:

Cultural Tourism DC thanks the contributors whose gifts made the Heritage Trail launch possible: Horning Brothers, Park Triangle Lofts and Flats, Triangle Ventures, LLC, DC USA, Development Corporation of Columbia Heights, Marriott & Renaissance Hotels of Washington, DC, Ayala Associates, Office of Councilmember Jim Graham, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and Giant.