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Standing amid the hustle and bustle of Georgetown's main drag, you'd never suspect that a placid 18th-century port town hides here. Nestled beyond the trendy restaurants, designer shops, and lively bars, you'll find picturesque gardens, historic house museums, and a healthy helping of political intrigue.

Walk in the footsteps of presidents and scholars, athletes and socialites, as you take in the sights and stories of this action-packed waterfront neighborhood. Whether you're a tourist, eccentric heiress, college student, or history buff, Georgetown has something for you.

Georgetown began in 1751 as a Maryland tobacco port on the banks of the Potomac River. When Congress created the District of Columbia for the nation's capital in 1791, the District's 10-mile-square boundaries were drawn to include this port town, as well as the very similar Virginia tobacco port of Alexandria, down the river.

Alexandria was given back to Virginia in 1846, but Georgetown remains as one of Washington's most lively urban neighborhoods.

Georgetown offers many attractions that can draw you into its rich history, from canal trips on mule-drawn barges to the Dumbarton Oaks estate and its world-class gardens, to three exceptional historic house museums: Dumbarton House, Tudor Place, and the Old Stone House.

And don't forget the Kennedys! Fresh from the altar, young Jack and Jackie called Georgetown home. Walk in their footsteps down picturesque streets as you time-travel back to Camelot.

Georgetown University is the oldest Catholic university in the United States. This co-educational Jesuit institution founded by Father John Carroll in 1789 is renowned for its programs in law, medicine, and international relations. The impressive alumni roster includes ten heads of state, among them former President Bill Clinton; athletes Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson; and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia. Spurred on by a legendary basketball team and Jack the Bulldog, the athletics program mascot, Georgetown students are a staple in this charming corridor.

Check out our Calendar for up-to-date information on exhibitions, lectures and other heritage happenings in the city.