Georgetown began as a tobacco port in 1751, 40 years before Washington was chosen as the national capital. It is the city's oldest neighborhood and is a historic district. African Americans have lived and worked here since its beginning. After the Civil War, Herring Hill, a 15-block area of eastern-most Georgetown (south of P Street between Rock Creek Park and 31st Street, NW), was a magnet for families migrating to Washington. You can see many of their institutions and houses as you follow this tour.
