Events DC WalkingTown

Thank you for your interest and support of this year's program. We would like to let you know that the tour guide registration form is now closed.

We sincerely appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to participate. Your support helps make this event a success. We hope to see you in 2027.

1. Hillcrest Architecture: Hidden Gems of SE
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Tour description:
Challenging popular assumptions about "East of the River” neighborhoods, this highly-rated tour offers insights on the area’s history and its stunning houses. Many of the homes were designed by such legendary architects as Wilfred V. Worland, A.H. Stoneman, Leon Chatelain and pioneering black architects R.C. Archer, Jr., Lewis W. Giles, and Yettikov Wilson. Enjoy an interior tour of a unique Art Deco gem by architect John Joseph Earley deemed one of DC's 100 most architecturally significant homes in historian James Goode's "Capital Houses". The tour concludes with a tour of luxurious new townhomes at Skyland Town Center (with views spanning from The Mall to suburban Maryland, where participants may take refreshments at one of several restaurants.
Jim Byers; Neighborhood historian, host of WPFW 89.3 FM’s "Latin Flavor", featured guest on WETA's "If You Lived Here" segment that highlighted the Hillcrest neighborhood and renowned guide celebrating his 23rd year offering this dynamic tour.
Tour Guide: Jim  Byers; Neighborhood Historian
Ward: 7

3. Beyond the Insurrection: The History of Political and Social Protest on Washington DC's National Mall
9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Tour description:
We all have some memory of the political protest that occurred on January 6, 2021, when protesters used violence in an attempt to subvert the 2020 United States presidential election and forcibly stormed the United States Capitol when Congress was in session to certify the election results. The protest that occurred on January 6th was unlike the majority of political protests that have taken place in Washington DC for over 125 years, the foremost reason being that it used violent civil disobedience.  On this tour, you’ll learn about the established tradition of political protest in the United States of America and guaranteed to all its citizens in its Constitution.  We will explore sites along the National Mall as we discuss what makes a successful political protest and how this tradition came to be.
Tour Guide: Zachary  Patalingjug; Culture expert and licensed tour guide
Ward: 2

4. Fascism: The Tour
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tour description:
Join us for an insider's walk around the National Mall, where history, nature, and stories come alive. See the memorials and learn hidden stories about fascism with a retired ranger who managed the Mall for 15 years. View the fasces, a Roman symbol of state authority, in park memorials, and learn about the fight for and against fascism in World War II and other eras.
Tour Guide: Jamie Keller; Owner/Guide, Gray and Green Tours
Ward: 2

5. Brookland Connections to the City and the Nation: Howard University, Catholic University and the Smithsonian Institution
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tour description:
This tour will focus particularly on Brookland’s connections to Howard University, the Catholic University of America and the Smithsonian Institution. By considering how national leaders and faculty came to live in Brookland throughout its rural and urban history, the tour guide and participants will consider how these people helped to involve the neighborhood as a whole in the life of their institutions, the city, the nation and the world. From the time of Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Harrison Smith (early nineteenth century), through the residence of early twentieth century scientists such as Carrie Harrison, Theodore Holmes and Leonhard Stegnegar onto the time of such mid-twentieth century luminaries as Sterling Brown, Ralph Bunche, Edward Brooke, John Preston Davis, Bishop Fulton Sheen and Jean and Walter Kerr. Faculty members and staff from all three institutions have lived in and contributed to the life of the neighborhood throughout Brookland’s history. The work of Howard trained architects as well as the work of other district architects will be noted, such as John Joseph Early and George Santmyers. Background information considering Brookland during five historic periods: the Native American Woodlands Period, the Washington County era, the Civil War Era, Trolley Car Suburb (1893 to 1960) and the City Neighborhood (1960 to today). Photos from the guide’s personal collection will show representations of neighborhood sites during these various periods. The guide will point out buildings that are on the Historic Landmark registry and the sites and homes associated with such famous Brooklanders as Sterling Brown (the Howard University professor and Harlem Renaissance poet), Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling), Carrie Harrison (botanist and Four H leader), and Lois Malliou Jones {long time Howard faculty member and painter).
Tour Guide: John Feeley; neighborhood tour guide and occasional author
Ward: 5

6. America's Front Yard: Discover the National Mall in Moroccan Darija
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tour description:
Discover the history and symbols of the United States on this unique 60–75 minute guided walking tour of the National Mall, known as America's Front Yard, presented entirely in Moroccan Darija. 
Starting at the Smithsonian Castle and ending at the Lincoln Memorial, we'll visit iconic landmarks including the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, the Reflecting Pool, and the Lincoln Memorial while sharing fascinating stories, historical facts, and little-known details that bring these places to life. 
Conducting the tour in Moroccan Darija offers a welcoming and engaging experience for Darija speakers and anyone interested in Moroccan language. Join us for a memorable journey where American history is told in Moroccan Darija in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Tour Guide: Hanane Nafidi; Tourism & Sustainable Development Graduate
Ward: 2

7. Hidden Black History at Arlington National Cemetery
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tour description:
Millions visit Arlington National Cemetery each year to honor America's heroes, but few have the opportunity to discover the remarkable African American stories woven into this sacred landscape. Join author, historian, and licensed Washington, DC tour guide Lauri Williamson to discover why Arlington is far more than a military cemetery. Visit and tour Arlington House and uncover its connections to the enslaved community and the creation of Freedman's Village. Stand before the graves of pioneers who helped shape our nation, including Thurgood Marshall and Medgar Evers, and hear the inspiring stories of the Tuskegee Airmen and other trailblazers whose courage and sacrifice changed America. Through compelling storytelling and powerful places, you'll discover a side of Arlington National Cemetery that most visitors never experience.
Tour Guide: Lauri Williamson; Licensed Tour Guide and Author of 111 Places in Black Culture in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss
Ward: 1

9. Freedom Hill: The Hidden History of North Capitol
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Tour description:
Discover the hidden history of North Capitol and the remarkable landscape known as **Freedom Hill**, where stories of faith, freedom, war, military service, remembrance, and neighborhood resilience have unfolded for generations. Explore the historic grounds surrounding President Lincoln’s Cottage, the Armed Forces Retirement Home, and St. Paul’s Rock Creek Parish while learning about the people and events that shaped this often-overlooked part of Washington, DC
Hear stories stretching from colonial Maryland and early religious life through enslavement, emancipation, and the Civil War. Learn why President Abraham Lincoln traveled to this elevated area during some of the most difficult years of his presidency and how the surrounding landscape became connected to the nation’s military history. Along the way, discover historic burial grounds, memorial and funerary art, and stories of Washingtonians whose lives reflect the city’s changing communities._x000D_
Tour Guide: Demetrius Darwana Jones - Black; Community Leader
Ward: 4

10. Chevy Chase DC: One of America's 1st "Commuter Suburbs"
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Gentle walking tour of notable sites and structures in the original portion of Connecticut Ave corridor, just South of Chevy Chase Circle.  This guided experience reviews the history and presents examples of representative architecture.  Tour starts and ends at the historic Avalon Theater; it takes about 1-1/4 hours to complete.
Tour Guide: Keene Taylor; Life-time resident & on the Board of Historic Chevy Chase DC
Ward: 3

11. Historical and Hysterical
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Comedy Walks DC is historical and hysterical. Spanning nine museums from the outside, this unique tour covers the Renwick Gallery, Lafayette Park, Old Executive Office Building, Constitution Hall, WWIi Museum, WW1 Memorial, The Stone of Hope, Korean Memorial and will end up at the Lincoln Memorial. Each museum tangents between historical facts about the museum and standup comedy, impressions and music. Tour guide of the Smithsonians and 90 minute standup act in one fun filled fact filled tour.
Tour Guide: Richard Siegel; Historian, standup comic, singer/songwriter, appeared on Amazon Prime’s tv show Alpha House with John Goodman and Wanda Sykes
Ward: 2

12. Queering Capitol Hill
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Capitol Hill has long been a social and residential center for Washington, DC’s LGBT community. It has also been a center for bars and clubs, innovative women’s businesses, and our federal government. Join this tour to hear stories of radical lesbian separatists, First Amendment fights, the underpinning of LGBT religious organizations, interactions with Marines, and other tales from eight decades of gay and lesbian life in the shadow of the Capitol.
Tour Guide: Philip Clark; LGBT historian and writer
Ward: 6

13. Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tour description:
The April 1862 DC Emancipation Act paid compensation to slaveholders who were required to free over 3,000 enslaved people. Three months later President Lincoln proposed that Congress create a similar program for the nation.  Read Lincoln’s proposal, written in his own hand, and see several unique Lincoln artifacts at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church where he was a pew holder throughout his presidency. Hear how Pastor Phineas Gurley’s counsel steeled Lincoln’s commitment to winning the war as the only way to end slavery. Hear the back story of the words in 2nd Inaugural, words inscribed on the walls of the Lincoln memorial.  The tour begins outdoors at the hitching post where Lincoln tied his carriage, then moves indoors. It ends with an easy climb into the bell tower to view the 100-year-old clockworks and chimes, the only physical memorial to Lincoln ever created and dedicated to his memory by the President’s family.
Tour Guide: Len Shabman; Chair, History Program of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Ward: 2

14. Scandal & Stone: The Untold Architecture of Downtown DC
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Step beyond the monuments and uncover the hidden side of Downtown Washington, DC. This immersive walking tour reveals the scandals, secrets, and surprising stories hidden behind some of the city's most remarkable historic buildings. From America's first skyscraper and a legendary department store to grand hotels where presidents, journalists, and celebrities shaped history, every stop uncovers a fascinating chapter of the nation's past.

Discover how architecture influenced politics, journalism, business, and civil rights as you decode symbolic carvings, groundbreaking engineering, and forgotten design details. Along the way, you'll hear stories of ambition, corruption, discrimination, innovation, and resilience that most visitors never discover.

By the end of the tour, you'll never look at Washington's buildings the same way again. Behind every façade lies a secret, and every stone has a story.
Tour Guide: Ayana Everett; DC Native Tour Guide
Ward: 2

15. Oxon Run Stream Valley Hike: A Ward 8 Trek
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Tour description:
Oxon Run,  Ward 8's largest stream valley, is a study in contrasts. It starts in Maryland, runs through DC, and returns to Maryland before emptying into the Potomac River near the Wilson Bridge.  In between are pristine upland forests, remains of abandoned military training facilities, a rare magnolia bog, playing fields, a huge tennis center,  urban gardens, and a  case study in the challenges facing urban streams and the changed management strategies through the decades. This four mile will be a natural surface trail through the woods for the first and last mile, with paved trails in between. You’ll learn about the history of the stream and surrounding areas and the status of restoration efforts.
Tour Guide: Nathan Harrington; Professional tour guide and founder of Ward 8 Woods Conservancy
Ward: 8

16. The Obliteration of Reno City
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Most people know Fort Reno Park in the Tenleytown area of DC was the location of one of the Union forts that protected the nation’s capital from Confederate attack during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865). After the war, the fort site was returned to the property owner and sold to a real estate developer, who subdivided the rural land into about 600 small lots. The lots were purchased by whites and blacks. Some lots were developed with houses to rent and some were developed with owner-occupied houses. Over time, Reno City evolved into mostly an African American community with modest homes, three churches, and a few stores.
In the early 20th century, northwest DC, including Tenleytown, began to be developed with single family homes intended for white, upper middle-class residents. Reno City was an aberration that did not fit into the plans of the federal government nor DC officials, business leaders, real estate developers, and most local residents for the area. 
Come on the tour and learn how the community, except for Jesse Reno School (1903) and a few remnants in and around Fort Reno, was obliterated.
Tour Guide: Russ  Norfleet; Master Guide/The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC
Ward: 3

17. Alexandria Joins The (Canal) Party (Bike Tour)
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Tour description:
How the Alexandria Canal enabled the City of Alexandria to enjoy the economic benefits of the Washington D.C. system of canals
Bike ride along the historic path of the 19th-century Alexandria Canal and learn about its history, as well as its connection to the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal via the Alexandria Aqueduct, thus connecting the City of Alexandria to Georgetown and downtown Washington D.C. 
Please note: This is a shortened version of the same biking tour offered as part of the September 26, 2026 LocktoberfestDC, which consists of six canal-related tours (three walking and three biking).  Normally this tour is 3.5 hours... see www.LocktoberfestDC.org for more information.
Tour Guide: Tom Haser; National Mall Volunteer
Ward: 2

18. Adams Morgan Day Deep History Tour
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tour description:
Join Eddie Becker for a lively walk through the hidden history of Adams Morgan, then head straight into the Adams Morgan Day Neighborhood and enjoy your day.This eye-opening tour goes beyond nightlife and real estate to explore Indigenous communities, colonial conquest, slavery, segregation, redlining, gentrification, and the struggles for freedom that shaped the neighborhood. We’ll also look at Adams Morgan’s role as a home for revolutions and liberation movements from Central America, Chile, and the Horn of Africa.
Eddie Becker is a documentarian and investigative archivist who has spent decades uncovering hidden histories and chronicling activism, resistance, and neighborhood change.
The tour lasts about 1.5 hours at an easy walking pace and covers roughly three-quarters of a mile.
Location: Adams Morgan Plaza, in front of the Jubilee Housing building at the southwest corner of 18th St. and Columbia Rd. NW. The walk ends near 18th St. and Columbia Rd.
Tour Guide: Eddie Becker; DC Historian, Activist and Documentarian
Ward: 1

19. More Than Monuments: Discover the Birds on the National Mall

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Tour description:

The National Mall is more than monuments. It's also one of the country's most surprising urban birding destinations. Join DC Bird Alliance as we explore the landscapes surrounding the Washington Monument, Constitution Gardens, the Reflecting Pool, and other iconic sites while discovering the birds that call our nation's front yard home. Along the way, you'll learn how birds have adapted to city life, hear fascinating stories about migration and conservation, and gain a new perspective on some of America's most recognizable landmarks. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply curious about the natural world, this leisurely walk offers a fresh way to experience the National Mall. Participants are encouraged to bring water, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and binoculars if they have them. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow.

Tour Guide: Maria-Elena Montero; Nature Lover, Birding Enthusiast

Ward: 2

20. Penn Branch: A View From the Top

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Tour description:

Stately detached homes, quiet tree-lined streets and striking vistas that can stretch from Downtown to Silver Spring are just a few of the charms of the Penn Branch neighborhood in Southeast Washington, DC. Discover the area’s history as part of a sprawling resort and planned development by a syndicate of prominent businesspeople that included Sen. George Hearst, New York Central Railroad President Chauncey DePew and the Havemeyer family (Domino Sugar). You will pass a diverse array of homes that include works by architects such as H. Clay Ashby, Louis Moss (Chevey Chase Arcade), Joseph Abel (The Towers), Clifton White, Marcus Hallett, as well as Black architect R.C. Archer, and the home of Anthony Carozza, the developer of nearby Hillcrest Heights, MD (named after Hillcrest, SE) and Iverson Mall.

Tour Guide: Jim Byers; Neighborhood Historian

Ward: 7

21. Why We Ride: A Cycling History of DC (Bike Tour)

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Tour description:

See the park and memorials, and learn how the history of the bicycle, the National Mall and the United States are intertwined. Share your cycling stories, explore how cycling pioneers changed their lives and their world, and how you can, too!

Washington, DC has developed into one of the most bike friendly cities in the country. Enjoy a leisurely ride, mostly using off-street paths and bike lanes. Learn how park and urban planners have worked to enhance cycling opportunities, but also about instances where bike and pedestrian access have been hindered.

Tour Guide: Jamie Keller; Owner/Guide, Gray and Green Tours

23. Beyond the Closet: The Persecution and Liberation of Washington DC's LGBTQ+ Community

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tour description:

Today Washington DC is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly jurisdictions in the country with gay-friendly laws, an inclusive school curriculum, anti-discrimination protections, and marriage equality.  But from the 1940s-1970s, this city was ground zero for actively uncovering closeted gay federal government employees and firing them without justification.  On this walking tour, you’ll see Washington DC’s iconic government buildings through the eyes of the committed government servants who were persecuted because of their sexual orientation.  You’ll see the sites where the brave few chose to fight back and demand their civil rights.  And you’ll see where they built their own communities and paved the way for today’s more inclusive city.   Our country chose fear over competence and denied the service of hundreds of eminently qualified researchers, diplomats, and leaders.  But in the end, learn how this discrimination caused the LGBTQ community to organize, to unite, and to emerge from the closet.

Tour Guide: Zachary Patalingjug; Cultural expert and licensed tour guide

Ward: 2

25. Historic Theatre Walking Tour in Downtown DC

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Join Theatre Washington for an interactive exploration of some of the city's most historic theatres! In celebration of DC's annual Theatre Week festival, get a behind-the-scenes look at several iconic theatre spaces, including the National Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and Ford's Theatre. Discover how their productions are inspired by the city's citizens, culture, history, and unique character.

Washington is the seat of American democracy, and its theatres have long played an important role in the city's story: enriching its cultural life, shaping its reputation, and transforming its urban landscape. On this tour, we'll explore the dynamic relationship between Washington's theatres and the city itself, uncovering how their productions illuminate America's capital, its place in the world, and the people who call it home

Tour Guide: Amy  Austin; Join Theatre Washington for an interactive exploration of some of the city's most historic theatres! In celebration of DC's annual Theatre Week festival, get a behind-the-scenes look at several iconic theatre spaces, including the National Theatre, Shakes

Ward: 2

26. Historical and Hysterical

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Comedy Walks DC is historical and hysterical. Spanning nine museums from the outside, this unique tour covers the Renwick Gallery, Lafayette Park, Old Executive Office Building, Constitution Hall, WWIi Museum, WW1 Memorial, The Stone of Hope, Korean Memorial and will end up at the Lincoln Memorial. Each museum tangents between historical facts about the museum and standup comedy, impressions and music. Tour guide of the Smithsonians and 90 minute standup act in one fun filled fact filled tour.

Tour Guide: Richard Siegel; Historian, standup comic, singer/songwriter, appeared on Amazon Prime’s tv show Alpha House with John Goodman and Wanda Sykes

Ward: 2

27. Art and History are Alive in the Cemetery

Sunday, September 20, 2026 

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Tour description:

Historic Rock Creek Cemetery was established around 1726 & is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Mid-Atlantic. The churchyard has a history dating to almost 75 years before the District of Columbia was established.  On our tour, we will wander through portions of this 86 acre Nationally Registered Landmark known for its beautiful parklike settings and magnificent pieces of funerary sculpture, including the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens Adams Memorial, nicknamed "Grief".  We will also talk about famous - and infamous - luminaries that helped to shape not only DC, but the very nation itself.  Art and History are truly alive in the Cemetery!

Tour Guide: Donald Harrell; Former Historian for the Cemetery and former resident of DC who enjoys returning to DC for things like WalkingTownDC!

Ward: 4

28. Tenleytown to Wesley Heights…Bet you don’t Realize all that’s there!

Sunday, September 20, 2026

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Where do religion, culture, news, security and beauty all exist within a bit over a mile of each other?  They’re on and near Nebraska Avenue from Tenleytown to Wesley Heights. On this stretch, we have the National Presbyterian Church and school and the Methodist Seminary. We have the stunning ambassadorial residence of Japan and former residence of Sweden. Next to each other we have the headquarters of both local NBC news and Homeland Security (yes really?!?) Then we have American University with its beautiful arboretum-designated landscaping and rich and somewhat scandalous history. Finally, an overview of Wesley Heights, and current and past residences of interesting people..think Marriott hotels and CDC. Oh and I live there too.

Start at the Tenleytown Mural on Wisconsin Avenue and Grant Road

South on Wisconsin Avenue and go right at Tenley circle on to Nebraska Ave

On Nebraska Avenue see

•            Residence of Japanese Ambassador

•            Former Residence of Swedish Ambassador Residence

•            National Presbyterian Church and school

•            Local NBC News Headquarters

•            Headquarters of Homeland Security

Go Around Ward Circle

Visit American University

See National United Methodist Church.

End at Nebraska Avenue and New Mexico Ave.

Tour Guide: Ellen Malasky; Guild Certified Master Tour Guide

Ward: 3

29. Scandal & Stone: The Untold Architecture of Downtown DC

Sunday, September 20, 2026

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Step beyond the monuments and uncover the hidden side of Downtown Washington, DC. This immersive walking tour reveals the scandals, secrets, and surprising stories hidden behind some of the city's most remarkable historic buildings. From America's first skyscraper and a legendary department store to grand hotels where presidents, journalists, and celebrities shaped history, every stop uncovers a fascinating chapter of the nation's past.

Discover how architecture influenced politics, journalism, business, and civil rights as you decode symbolic carvings, groundbreaking engineering, and forgotten design details. Along the way, you'll hear stories of ambition, corruption, discrimination, innovation, and resilience that most visitors never discover.

By the end of the tour, you'll never look at Washington's buildings the same way again. Behind every façade lies a secret, and every stone has a story.

Tour Guide: Ayana Everett; DC Native Tour Guide

Ward: 2

30. Following in Her Footsteps: Women’s Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Sunday, September 20, 2026

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tour description:

What if you could step into a suffrage march, hear the voices of women fighting for change, and stand where history unfolded? On this immersive walking tour, you’ll do just that. Travel back to 1913 and imagine yourself among the thousands of women marching down Pennsylvania Avenue demanding the right to vote. Meet Belva Lockwood, the trailblazing first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, and discover the surprising way she traveled through Washington. See one of D.C.’s earliest cherry trees and uncover the fascinating story of Eliza Scidmore and Helen Taft and their roles in bringing these beloved trees to Washington. Hear the songs of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in the spots where she advocated for Civil Rights. Come for the stories, unexpected connections, and the amplification of lesser-known moments in history. You'll leave seeing Capitol Hill, and even your own role in history, a little differently.

Tour Guide: Jennifer Alvarez Franz; Travel BFF, Founder, and Tour Director

Ward: 6

31. When the British Burned Washington DC (Bike Tour)

Sunday, September 20, 2026

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tour description:

In 1814, Washington, DC was not much more than a village with a few grand buildings (only 14 years old as the new nation’s federal capital). It was nearly wiped out of existence by a British invasion during the War of 1812. Nearly every federal building was burned including the White House and the US Capitol Building. Numerous opportunities were missed to avoid the calamity, but something amazing happened that spared DC. Come ride the avenues the Brits set ablaze and hear some of the fascinating stories, acts of heroism, and amazing natural circumstances that kept our beautiful city from total destruction.

Tour Guide: Jeff Miller; Owner, principal guide, licensed DC guide, and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC

Ward: 0

32. Lincoln and the Civil War

Sunday, September 20, 2026

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tour description:

Examine the dozens of locales relating to President Lincoln and the Civil War, walking from the Botanic Garden and its connection to Union Navy Commodore Charles Wilkes, to the Garfield and Grant statues at the foot of the Capitol Building, the role of Jefferson Davis, Montgomery Meigs, and Phillip Reid re the Capitol's statue of freedom, past the statue of Gettysburg's Gen. Meade, to the site of Matthew Brady's photographic studio and the Grand Army of the Republic statue, up to the African-American Odd Fellows society and the Clara Barton office, past the workplace of Union Army nurse Walt Whitman, and ending at the rear of Ford's Theater for a discussion of Lincoln's assassination and aftermath.

Tour Guide: Edward Moser; Author, historian

Ward: 2

33. Brookland Connections to the City and the Nation: Howard University, Catholic University and the Smithsonian Institution

Monday, September 21, 2026 

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

This tour will focus particularly on Brookland’s connections to Howard University, the Catholic University of America and the Smithsonian Institution. By considering how national leaders and faculty came to live in Brookland throughout its rural and urban history, the tour guide and participants will consider how these people helped to involve the neighborhood as a whole in the life of their institutions, the city, the nation and the world. From the time of Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Harrison Smith (early nineteenth century), through the residence of early twentieth century scientists such as Carrie Harrison, Theodore Holmes and Leonhard Stegnegar onto the time of such mid-twentieth century luminaries as Sterling Brown, Ralph Bunche, Edward Brooke, John Preston Davis, Bishop Fulton Sheen and Jean and Walter Kerr. Faculty members and staff from all three institutions have lived in and contributed to the life of the neighborhood throughout Brookland’s history. The work of Howard trained architects as well as the work of other district architects will be noted, such as John Joseph Early and George Santmyers. Background information considering Brookland during five historic periods: the Native American Woodlands Period, the Washington County era, the Civil War Era, Trolley Car Suburb (1893 to 1960) and the City Neighborhood (1960 to today). Photos from the guide’s personal collection will show representations of neighborhood sites during these various periods. The guide will point out buildings that are on the Historic Landmark registry and the sites and homes associated with such famous Brooklanders as Sterling Brown (the Howard University professor and Harlem Renaissance poet), Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling), Carrie Harrison (botanist and Four H leader), and Lois Malliou Jones {long time Howard faculty member and painter).

Tour Guide: John Feeley; neighborhood tour guide and occasional author

Ward: 5

35. The History, Art, and Architecture of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building

Monday, September 21, 2026 

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Discover the art and architecture that made the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building a "symbol of a new day" during the Great Depression. Designed by local architect Waddy Wood and completed in 1936, the Interior’s headquarters structure features more Public Works Administration (PWA) artwork than any other Federal building. Your overview of the U.S. Department of the Interior past and present will provide context for the "Department of Everything Else" and explain how the agency has evolved since its founding in 1849. As part of this indoor tour, you will visit the museum and also see a selection of the more than 40 painted murals by New Deal-era artists, plus several of the 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams. For those in need of special assistance (such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired), please notify museum staff in advance; special needs will be accommodated whenever possible.

Tour Guide: Jason Jurgena; Registrar, U.S. Department of the Interior Museum

Ward: 2

36. Cultural and Music Heritage of DC's Black Broadway

Monday, September 21, 2026 

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Tour description:

Here’s what you can expect:_

-Duration: Approximately 2 hours guided walking tour.

– View one-of-a-kind murals featuring notable Black history makers like Duke Ellington, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, and more,

– Learn about the jazz and cultural renaissance that shaped today’s African American successes, musicians, talents, activists, and leaders._x000D_

– Visit U Street’s vibrant Black-owned businesses and iconic attractions including the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum._x000D_

– Discover historic entertainment venues like the Howard Theater and Lincoln Theatre, which hosted legendary artists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.

Tour Guide: Briana Thomas; Tour guide

Ward: 1

37. Three Heros of Human Rights: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday, September 21, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Have you seen ancient Greek heroes like Odysseus in columned temples on the silver screen?  Many memorials in our nation’s capital incorporate classical architectural elements. The Lincoln Memorial looks like an edifice from classical antiquity. Walk with us as we discuss modern-day heroes President Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King, Jr. and look at how they struggled in times of great turmoil. Each leader overcame obstacles and adversity as they confronted periods of crisis. For Lincoln it was the issue of emancipation, for Frederick Douglass it was his connection with John Brown, and for Martin Luther King, Jr. it was the Cold War political climate.

Tour Guide: Joseph Mohr; National Park Ranger at National Mall and Memorial Parks. I have work at this park for 25 years

Ward: 2

38. DC Mural Tour: Explore the Street Art of NoMa & Union Market

Monday, September 21, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Weave through the streets of the ever-changing NoMa and Union Market neighborhoods. You'll discover dozens of new and old murals from local, national and international artists, while learning firsthand about the artists and art scene in DC. You will see more than 20 murals!

The tour ends in the Union Market District, home to dozens of dining and drinking options including a large food hall with lots of OUTDOOR seating,. Great for people watching.

Tour Guide: Jason Bowers; Curator, Gallerist, Project Manager, Mural Tour Guide

Ward: 5

39. Rediscover Dupont Circle

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

Rediscover Dupont Circle from 1880 to present. Learn about the streetscape and new cap park being created, the marble fountain that replaced a statue of Admiral Dupont, hear about old shops and restaurants, and discover some things you never knew.  This insider tour of Dupont Circle will discuss the history of the neighborhood from its early years to its decline in the 1960s, and rise again as a premiere arts, shopping, and dining destination.

Tour Guide: Bill McLeod; Long-time Dupont Circle community leader, and licensed tour guide

Ward: 2

40. The Wharf: Highlights from 200 years of History

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

This tour traces more than two centuries of history along one of Washington D.C.'s most storied stretches of waterfront — the mile-long promenade of the Washington Channel in Southwest DC. Participants will learn about the nation's oldest open-air fish market, the largest known attempted escape of enslaved people in American history, The Pearl, the complicated story of 1950s urban renewal, pays tribute to Arena Stage's cultural legacy, and the neighborhood's contemporary renaissance.

Tour Guide: Fiona Clem; Fiona Clem is a licensed D.C. tour guide and a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides in DC. A long-time resident of Adams Morgan and the Meridian Hill neighborhood and wrote the book on Meridian Hill Park.

Ward: 6

41. Watergate by Bike (Bike Tour)

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tour description:

Fifty-three years ago, the nation was in the midst of the Watergate scandal. The Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities had held 319 hours of hearings in May of 1973 and their report was released in June of 1974 leading to three articles of impeachment and Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974. While some have recently dismissed Watergate as barely being worthy of a 12-hour news cycle today, it is a significant piece of our modern history and many scandals since has had “gate” in their name. We’ll learn about the actual “gate” that the scandal gets its name from and we will dive deep into some of the key sights of the events that unfolded over years to the American public. Sure, you’ve passed Watergate plenty of times, but come discover some of the lesser-known sites related to the scandal… including a couple which risk being “disappeared” any day.

Tour Guide: Jeff Miller; Owner, principal guide, licensed DC guide, and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC

42. Three Heros of Human Rights: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tour description:

Have you seen ancient Greek heroes like Odysseus in columned temples on the silver screen?  Many memorials in our nation’s capital incorporate classical architectural elements. The Lincoln Memorial looks like an edifice from classical antiquity. Walk with us as we discuss modern-day heroes President Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King, Jr. and look at how they struggled in times of great turmoil. Each leader overcame obstacles and adversity as they confronted periods of crisis. For Lincoln it was the issue of emancipation, for Frederick Douglass it was his connection with John Brown, and for Martin Luther King, Jr. it was the Cold War political climate.

Tour Guide: Joseph Mohr; National Park Ranger at National Mall and Memorial Parks. I have work at this park for 25 years

Ward: 2

43. Following in Her Footsteps: Women’s Advocacy on Capitol Hill

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

What if you could step into a suffrage march, hear the voices of women fighting for change, and stand where history unfolded? On this immersive walking tour, you’ll do just that. Travel back to 1913 and imagine yourself among the thousands of women marching down Pennsylvania Avenue demanding the right to vote. Meet Belva Lockwood, the trailblazing first woman to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, and discover the surprising way she traveled through Washington. See one of D.C.’s earliest cherry trees and uncover the fascinating story of Eliza Scidmore and Helen Taft and their roles in bringing these beloved trees to Washington. Hear the songs of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in the spots where she advocated for Civil Rights. Come for the stories, unexpected connections, and the amplification of lesser-known moments in history. You'll leave seeing Capitol Hill, and even your own role in history, a little differently.

Tour Guide: Jennifer Alvarez Franz; Travel BFF, Founder, and Tour Director

Ward: 6

44. Discover the National Mall by night - and in French

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Choose this evening tour to experience Washington in a completely different atmosphere. Starting at the Lincoln Memorial and ending on Constitution Avenue behind the White House, this easy 2.5-hour walk explores the National Mall after dark._x000D_

Evening is an ideal time to visit, especially during Washington’s hot and humid summers. Temperatures are cooler, crowds are generally smaller, and the illuminated monuments and memorials provide a spectacular setting for photos._x000D_

With your French-speaking guide, you’ll discover the history behind the creation of the United States and its capital while meeting some of the great figures commemorated along the Mall. You’ll also uncover Washington’s surprising connections with France, from Pierre L’Enfant, who designed the original city plan, to the Marquis de Lafayette and the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon._x000D_

Because the memorials are open 24 hours a day, Washington at night offers a quieter and particularly memorable way to discover the city.

Ward: 2

45. Brookland: Past, Present and Future

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Tour description:

The Brookland neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C. has a rich and interesting history that dates back more than 100 years. Come stretch your legs and discover that history on a walking tour of Brookland's cultural and historic landmarks. See for yourself the civic pride and "people power" that contributed to creating and maintaining one of the most appealing -- yet little known -- neighborhoods in DC.

Tour Guide: Caroline Petti; President Emerita, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, neighborhood historian and activist

Ward: 5

46. Brushstrokes & Backstreets: A Walking Tour of Murals in NoMa

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

Step into the vibrant streets of NoMa and see why this area is called the Mural Capital of DC. See more than 20 stunning large-scale works that transform walls, alleys and unexpected corners into a colorful outdoor gallery. Each mural was created by talented emerging and established artists during "NoMa in Color" — the neighborhood’s celebrated 10-day mural festival held every fall. In 2026, the festival was voted runner-up for Best Arts & Culture Festival in Washington City Paper's Best of DC survey, making this the perfect year to experience one of DC's best neighborhoods for creativity, color and community.

Tour Guide: Brian Smith; Vice-President, Planning and Economic Development, NoMa BID.

Ward: 0

47. The History, Art, and Architecture of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Discover the art and architecture that made the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building a "symbol of a new day" during the Great Depression. Designed by local architect Waddy Wood and completed in 1936, the Interior’s headquarters structure features more Public Works Administration (PWA) artwork than any other Federal building. Your overview of the U.S. Department of the Interior past and present will provide context for the "Department of Everything Else" and explain how the agency has evolved since its founding in 1849. As part of this indoor tour, you will visit the museum and also see a selection of the more than 40 painted murals by New Deal-era artists, plus several of the 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams. For those in need of special assistance (such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired), please notify museum staff in advance; special needs will be accommodated whenever possible.

Tour Guide: Tracy Baetz; Chief Curator, U.S. Department of the Interior Museum

Ward: 2

48. Cultural and Music Heritage of DC's Black Broadway

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Tour description:

Here’s what you can expect:_x000D_

-Duration: Approximately 2 hours guided walking tour._x000D_

– View one-of-a-kind murals featuring notable Black history makers like Duke Ellington, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, and more._x000D_

– Learn about the jazz and cultural renaissance that shaped today’s African American successes, musicians, talents, activists, and leaders._x000D_

– Visit U Street’s vibrant Black-owned businesses and iconic attractions including the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum._x000D_

– Discover historic entertainment venues like the Howard Theater and Lincoln Theatre, which hosted legendary artists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.

Tour Guide: Briana Thomas; Tour guide

Ward: 1

49. Fascism: The Tour

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Join us for an insider's walk around the National Mall, where history, nature, and stories come alive. See the memorials and learn hidden stories about fascism with a retired ranger who managed the Mall for 15 years. View the fasces, a Roman symbol of state authority, in park memorials, and learn about the fight for and against fascism in World War II and other eras.

Tour Guide: Jamie Keller; Owner/Guide, Gray and Green Tours

Ward: 2

51. Under Our Feet: Rediscovering the African American and Quaker Cemeteries at Walter Pierce Park

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Two invisible 19th-century cemeteries lie under foot at Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan, DC: a Quaker burying ground and the city's busiest Reconstruction-era African American cemetery. Learn how John Quincy Adams once loved this land and how the cemeteries almost disappeared from public memory in the 20th century. See what neighborhood activists, descendants of the buried, and university anthropologists did to commemorate this site in the tour's final stop: the Ancestors Pavillion at Walter Pierce Park.

Tour Guide: Mary Belcher; DC historian, writer, artist

Ward: 1

52. Brookland: Past, Present and Future

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Tour description:

The Brookland neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C. has a rich and interesting history that dates back more than 100 years. Come stretch your legs and discover that history on a walking tour of Brookland's cultural and historic landmarks. See for yourself the civic pride and "people power" that contributed to creating and maintaining one of the most appealing -- yet little known -- neighborhoods in DC.

Tour Guide: Caroline Petti; President Emerita, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, neighborhood historian and activist

Ward: 5

53. When the British Burned Washington DC (Bike Tour)

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tour description:

In 1814, Washington, DC was not much more than a village with a few grand buildings (only 14 years old as the new nation’s federal capital). It was nearly wiped out of existence by a British invasion during the War of 1812. Nearly every federal building was burned including the White House and the US Capitol Building. Numerous opportunities were missed to avoid the calamity, but something amazing happened that spared DC. Come ride the avenues the Brits set ablaze and hear some of the fascinating stories, acts of heroism, and amazing natural circumstances that kept our beautiful city from total destruction.

Tour Guide: Jeff Miller; Owner, principal guide, licensed DC guide, and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC

Ward: 0

54. Capitol Hill Scandals: Murder, Mayhem, and More

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Step into the dramatic side of Capitol Hill on a walking tour filled with political intrigue, scandal, and shocking moments from American history. From secret affairs and courtroom dramas to tragic losses and deadly rivalries, discover the stories Congress would rather forget. Along the way you’ll hear about spies in the Civil War, lawmakers attacked on the Senate floor, a journalist’s murder on the Capitol steps, and even a scandalous love story that shook Washington society. This tour reveals that behind the marble monuments and grand institutions of Capitol Hill lies a history packed with ambition, betrayal, and controversy.

Tour Guide: Rebecca Grawl; Professional tour guide and author

Ward: 2

55. Scandal & Stone: The Untold Architecture of Downtown DC

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tour description:

Step beyond the monuments and uncover the hidden side of Downtown Washington, DC. This immersive walking tour reveals the scandals, secrets, and surprising stories hidden behind some of the city's most remarkable historic buildings. From America's first skyscraper and a legendary department store to grand hotels where presidents, journalists, and celebrities shaped history, every stop uncovers a fascinating chapter of the nation's past.

Discover how architecture influenced politics, journalism, business, and civil rights as you decode symbolic carvings, groundbreaking engineering, and forgotten design details. Along the way, you'll hear stories of ambition, corruption, discrimination, innovation, and resilience that most visitors never discover.

By the end of the tour, you'll never look at Washington's buildings the same way again. Behind every façade lies a secret, and every stone has a story.

Tour Guide: Ayana Everett; DC Native Tour Guide

Ward: 2

. Rediscover Dupont Circle

Friday, September 25, 2026

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

Rediscover Dupont Circle from 1880 to present. Learn about the streetscape and new cap park being created, the marble fountain that replaced a statue of Admiral Dupont, hear about old shops and restaurants, and discover some things you never knew.  This insider tour of Dupont Circle will discuss the history of the neighborhood from its early years to its decline in the 1960s, and rise again as a premiere arts, shopping, and dining destination.

Tour Guide: Bill McLeod; Long-time Dupont Circle community leader, and licensed tour guide

Ward: 2

56. Under Our Feet: Rediscovering the African American and Quaker Cemeteries at Walter Pierce Park

Friday, September 25, 2026

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Two invisible 19th-century cemeteries lie under foot at Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan, DC: a Quaker burying ground and the city's busiest Reconstruction-era African American cemetery. Learn how John Quincy Adams once loved this land and how the cemeteries almost disappeared from public memory in the 20th century. See what neighborhood activists, descendants of the buried, and university anthropologists did to commemorate this site in the tour's final stop: the Ancestors Pavillion at Walter Pierce Park.

Tour Guide: Mary Belcher; DC historian, writer, artist

Ward: 1

57. Why We Ride: A Cycling History of DC (Bike Tour)

Friday, September 25, 2026

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

See the park and memorials, and learn how the history of the bicycle, the National Mall and the United States are intertwined. Share your cycling stories, explore how cycling pioneers changed their lives and their world, and how you can, too!

Washington, DC has developed into one of the most bike friendly cities in the country. Enjoy a leisurely ride, mostly using off-street paths and bike lanes. Learn how park and urban planners have worked to enhance cycling opportunities, but also about instances where bike and pedestrian access have been hindered.

Tour Guide: Jamie Keller; Owner/Guide, Gray and Green Tours

Ward: 0

58. More Than Monuments: Discover the Birds on the National Mall

Saturday, September 26, 2026

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Tour description:

The National Mall is more than monuments. It's also one of the country's most surprising urban birding destinations. Join DC Bird Alliance as we explore the landscapes surrounding the Washington Monument, Constitution Gardens, the Reflecting Pool, and other iconic sites while discovering the birds that call our nation's front yard home. Along the way, you'll learn how birds have adapted to city life, hear fascinating stories about migration and conservation, and gain a new perspective on some of America's most recognizable landmarks. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply curious about the natural world, this leisurely walk offers a fresh way to experience the National Mall. Participants are encouraged to bring water, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and binoculars if they have them. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow.

Tour Guide: Maria-Elena Montero; Nature Lover, Birding Enthusiast

Ward: 2

45. Brookland: Past, Present and Future

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Tour description:

The Brookland neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C. has a rich and interesting history that dates back more than 100 years. Come stretch your legs and discover that history on a walking tour of Brookland's cultural and historic landmarks. See for yourself the civic pride and "people power" that contributed to creating and maintaining one of the most appealing -- yet little known -- neighborhoods in DC.

Tour Guide: Caroline Petti; President Emerita, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, neighborhood historian and activist

Ward: 5

46. Brushstrokes & Backstreets: A Walking Tour of Murals in NoMa

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

Step into the vibrant streets of NoMa and see why this area is called the Mural Capital of DC. See more than 20 stunning large-scale works that transform walls, alleys and unexpected corners into a colorful outdoor gallery. Each mural was created by talented emerging and established artists during "NoMa in Color" — the neighborhood’s celebrated 10-day mural festival held every fall. In 2026, the festival was voted runner-up for Best Arts & Culture Festival in Washington City Paper's Best of DC survey, making this the perfect year to experience one of DC's best neighborhoods for creativity, color and community.

Tour Guide: Brian Smith; Vice-President, Planning and Economic Development, NoMa BID.

Ward: 0

47. The History, Art, and Architecture of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Discover the art and architecture that made the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building a "symbol of a new day" during the Great Depression. Designed by local architect Waddy Wood and completed in 1936, the Interior’s headquarters structure features more Public Works Administration (PWA) artwork than any other Federal building. Your overview of the U.S. Department of the Interior past and present will provide context for the "Department of Everything Else" and explain how the agency has evolved since its founding in 1849. As part of this indoor tour, you will visit the museum and also see a selection of the more than 40 painted murals by New Deal-era artists, plus several of the 1941–1942 photomurals by Ansel Adams. For those in need of special assistance (such as an interpreter for the hearing impaired), please notify museum staff in advance; special needs will be accommodated whenever possible.

Tour Guide: Tracy Baetz; Chief Curator, U.S. Department of the Interior Museum

Ward: 2

48. Cultural and Music Heritage of DC's Black Broadway

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Tour description:

Here’s what you can expect:_x000D_

-Duration: Approximately 2 hours guided walking tour._x000D_

– View one-of-a-kind murals featuring notable Black history makers like Duke Ellington, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, and more._x000D_

– Learn about the jazz and cultural renaissance that shaped today’s African American successes, musicians, talents, activists, and leaders._x000D_

– Visit U Street’s vibrant Black-owned businesses and iconic attractions including the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum._x000D_

– Discover historic entertainment venues like the Howard Theater and Lincoln Theatre, which hosted legendary artists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.

Tour Guide: Briana Thomas; Tour guide

Ward: 1

49. Fascism: The Tour

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Join us for an insider's walk around the National Mall, where history, nature, and stories come alive. See the memorials and learn hidden stories about fascism with a retired ranger who managed the Mall for 15 years. View the fasces, a Roman symbol of state authority, in park memorials, and learn about the fight for and against fascism in World War II and other eras.

Tour Guide: Jamie Keller; Owner/Guide, Gray and Green Tours

Ward: 2

51. Under Our Feet: Rediscovering the African American and Quaker Cemeteries at Walter Pierce Park

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Two invisible 19th-century cemeteries lie under foot at Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan, DC: a Quaker burying ground and the city's busiest Reconstruction-era African American cemetery. Learn how John Quincy Adams once loved this land and how the cemeteries almost disappeared from public memory in the 20th century. See what neighborhood activists, descendants of the buried, and university anthropologists did to commemorate this site in the tour's final stop: the Ancestors Pavillion at Walter Pierce Park.

Tour Guide: Mary Belcher; DC historian, writer, artist

Ward: 1

52. Brookland: Past, Present and Future

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Tour description:

The Brookland neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C. has a rich and interesting history that dates back more than 100 years. Come stretch your legs and discover that history on a walking tour of Brookland's cultural and historic landmarks. See for yourself the civic pride and "people power" that contributed to creating and maintaining one of the most appealing -- yet little known -- neighborhoods in DC.

Tour Guide: Caroline Petti; President Emerita, Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association, neighborhood historian and activist

Ward: 5

53. When the British Burned Washington DC (Bike Tour)

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tour description:

In 1814, Washington, DC was not much more than a village with a few grand buildings (only 14 years old as the new nation’s federal capital). It was nearly wiped out of existence by a British invasion during the War of 1812. Nearly every federal building was burned including the White House and the US Capitol Building. Numerous opportunities were missed to avoid the calamity, but something amazing happened that spared DC. Come ride the avenues the Brits set ablaze and hear some of the fascinating stories, acts of heroism, and amazing natural circumstances that kept our beautiful city from total destruction.

Tour Guide: Jeff Miller; Owner, principal guide, licensed DC guide, and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC

Ward: 0

54. Capitol Hill Scandals: Murder, Mayhem, and More

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Step into the dramatic side of Capitol Hill on a walking tour filled with political intrigue, scandal, and shocking moments from American history. From secret affairs and courtroom dramas to tragic losses and deadly rivalries, discover the stories Congress would rather forget. Along the way you’ll hear about spies in the Civil War, lawmakers attacked on the Senate floor, a journalist’s murder on the Capitol steps, and even a scandalous love story that shook Washington society. This tour reveals that behind the marble monuments and grand institutions of Capitol Hill lies a history packed with ambition, betrayal, and controversy.

Tour Guide: Rebecca Grawl; Professional tour guide and author

Ward: 2

55. Scandal & Stone: The Untold Architecture of Downtown DC

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Tour description:

Step beyond the monuments and uncover the hidden side of Downtown Washington, DC. This immersive walking tour reveals the scandals, secrets, and surprising stories hidden behind some of the city's most remarkable historic buildings. From America's first skyscraper and a legendary department store to grand hotels where presidents, journalists, and celebrities shaped history, every stop uncovers a fascinating chapter of the nation's past.

Discover how architecture influenced politics, journalism, business, and civil rights as you decode symbolic carvings, groundbreaking engineering, and forgotten design details. Along the way, you'll hear stories of ambition, corruption, discrimination, innovation, and resilience that most visitors never discover.

By the end of the tour, you'll never look at Washington's buildings the same way again. Behind every façade lies a secret, and every stone has a story.

Tour Guide: Ayana Everett; DC Native Tour Guide

Ward: 2

50. Rediscover Dupont Circle

Friday, September 25, 2026

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Tour description:

Rediscover Dupont Circle from 1880 to present. Learn about the streetscape and new cap park being created, the marble fountain that replaced a statue of Admiral Dupont, hear about old shops and restaurants, and discover some things you never knew.  This insider tour of Dupont Circle will discuss the history of the neighborhood from its early years to its decline in the 1960s, and rise again as a premiere arts, shopping, and dining destination.

Tour Guide: Bill McLeod; Long-time Dupont Circle community leader, and licensed tour guide

Ward: 2

56. Under Our Feet: Rediscovering the African American and Quaker Cemeteries at Walter Pierce Park

Friday, September 25, 2026

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Two invisible 19th-century cemeteries lie under foot at Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan, DC: a Quaker burying ground and the city's busiest Reconstruction-era African American cemetery. Learn how John Quincy Adams once loved this land and how the cemeteries almost disappeared from public memory in the 20th century. See what neighborhood activists, descendants of the buried, and university anthropologists did to commemorate this site in the tour's final stop: the Ancestors Pavillion at Walter Pierce Park.

Tour Guide: Mary Belcher; DC historian, writer, artist

Ward: 1

59. Queering Capitol Hill

Saturday, September 26, 2026

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Tour description:

Capitol Hill has long been a social and residential center for Washington, DC’s LGBT community. It has also been a center for bars and clubs, innovative women’s businesses, and our federal government. Join this tour to hear stories of radical lesbian separatists, First Amendment fights, the underpinning of LGBT religious organizations, interactions with Marines, and other tales from eight decades of gay and lesbian life in the shadow of the Capitol.

Tour Guide: Philip Clark; LGBT historian and writer

Ward: 6

60. Pennsylvania Avenue: Hidden Stories from Lafayette Square to Capitol Hill

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tour description:

Pennsylvania Avenue: Hidden Stories from Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill reveals the people, places, and events often overlooked in traditional Washington tours through an African American perspective. While the tour explores the familiar landmarks of the nation's capital, it focuses on the hidden stories of enslaved people, free Black communities, civil rights advocates, public servants, and others whose lives intersected with the centers of American power. Along the way, participants will discover how these overlooked narratives deepen our understanding of the nation's history and demonstrate that the story of Pennsylvania Avenue is richer, more complex, and more inclusive than the traditional accounts suggest.

Tour Guide: William Holland; Certified Washington, D.C. Tour Guide, historian, author, retired attorney, and descendant of the enslaved at Mount Vernon. A member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC

Ward: 2

61. History on Foot: Investigation: Detective McDevitt

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Tour description:

On the night of April 14, 1865, Detective James McDevitt was on duty at the Washington Metropolitan Police headquarters, a half-block from Ford’s Theatre. Just before 10:30 p.m., frantic witnesses rushed in with horrifying news: President Lincoln had been shot at the theatre. Join Detective McDevitt as he revisits the sites and reexamines the clues from the investigation into the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy. Part of History on Foot.

The distance walked is approximately 1.6 miles from Ford’s Theatre to the White House. Wear comfortable shoes.

This walking tour of downtown Washington, D.C., makes eight stops. It does not include entrance into Ford’s Theatre.

Tour Guide: Gabby Allen; Social Media and Marketing Manager, on behalf of the walking tour hosted by Ford's Theatre: History on Foot: Investigation: Detective McDevitt. 

The actual tour guide will be an actor portraying Detective James McDevitt, along with one of their assistant

Ward: 2

62. Art and History are Alive in the Cemetery

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tour description:

Historic Rock Creek Cemetery was established around 1726 & is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Mid-Atlantic. The churchyard has a history dating to almost 75 years before the District of Columbia was established.  On our tour, we will wander through portions of this 86 acre Nationally Registered Landmark known for its beautiful parklike settings and magnificent pieces of funerary sculpture, including the famous Augustus Saint-Gaudens Adams Memorial, nicknamed "Grief".  We will also talk about famous - and infamous - luminaries that helped to shape not only DC, but the very nation itself.  Art and History are truly alive in the Cemetery!

Tour Guide: Donald Harrell; Former Historian for the Cemetery and former resident of DC who enjoys returning to DC for things like WalkingTownDC!

Ward: 4

63. Mansions of Meridian Hill

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Tour description:

The Meridian Hill neighborhood has 15 beautiful mansions dating from the early 20th Century. Join local guide and author Fiona Clem to explore the mansions of the Meridian Hill neighborhood and their significance in the history of the neighborhood. Learn about the unique architecture of the homes, the importance of Meridian Hill Park, and the historical figures that influenced the neighborhood.

Tour Guide: Fiona Clem; Fiona Clem is a licensed D.C. tour guide and a member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides in DC. A long-time resident of Adams Morgan and the Meridian Hill neighborhood, Fiona is the author of the book Meridian Hill Park.

Ward: 1

64. Freedom Hill: The Hidden History of North Capitol

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Tour description:

Discover the hidden history of North Capitol and the remarkable landscape known as **Freedom Hill**, where stories of faith, freedom, war, military service, remembrance, and neighborhood resilience have unfolded for generations. Explore the historic grounds surrounding President Lincoln’s Cottage, the Armed Forces Retirement Home, and St. Paul’s Rock Creek Parish while learning about the people and events that shaped this often-overlooked part of Washington, DC.

Hear stories stretching from colonial Maryland and early religious life through enslavement, emancipation, and the Civil War. Learn why President Abraham Lincoln traveled to this elevated area during some of the most difficult years of his presidency and how the surrounding landscape became connected to the nation’s military history. Along the way, discover historic burial grounds, memorial and funerary art, and stories of Washingtonians whose lives reflect the city’s changing communities.

**Freedom Hill: The Hidden History of North Capitol** offers a different view of Washington—one found beyond the monuments and museums of the National Mall. This tour takes place primarily outdoors and focuses on the exterior grounds and surrounding historic landscape. Interior access to sites is not included as part of the tour.

Tour Guide: Demetrius_

Darwana Jones, 

Black; Community Leader

Ward: 4

65. U.S. National Arboretum Hiking Tour

Saturday, September 26, 2026

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Tour description:

Spend the morning exploring the National Arboretum's beautiful gardens, meadows, and wooded areas. Your knowledgeable guides will highlight special points of interest and seasonal features throughout the tour. This approximately 2-hour walk will cover about 3 miles over hilly and uneven terrain. Please note that it will be a brisk walk, not a leisurely garden tour, so come prepared!

Tour Guide: Yalonda  Thomas; Visitor Programs Manager at Friends of the National Arboretum

Ward: 5

66. Brookland Connections to the City and the Nation: Howard University, Catholic University and the Smithsonian Institution

Saturday, September 26, 2026

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tour description:

This tour will focus particularly on Brookland’s connections to Howard University, the Catholic University of America and the Smithsonian Institution. By considering how national leaders and faculty came to live in Brookland throughout its rural and urban history, the tour guide and participants will consider how these people helped to involve the neighborhood as a whole in the life of their institutions, the city, the nation and the world. From the time of Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Harrison Smith (early nineteenth century), through the residence of early twentieth century scientists such as Carrie Harrison, Theodore Holmes and Leonhard Stegnegar onto the time of such mid-twentieth century luminaries as Sterling Brown, Ralph Bunche, Edward Brooke, John Preston Davis, Bishop Fulton Sheen and Jean and Walter Kerr. Faculty members and staff from all three institutions have lived in and contributed to the life of the neighborhood throughout Brookland’s history. The work of Howard trained architects as well as the work of other district architects will be noted, such as John Joseph Early and George Santmyers. Background information considering Brookland during five historic periods: the Native American Woodlands Period, the Washington County era, the Civil War Era, Trolley Car Suburb (1893 to 1960) and the City Neighborhood (1960 to today). Photos from the guide’s personal collection will show representations of neighborhood sites during these various periods. The guide will point out buildings that are on the Historic Landmark registry and the sites and homes associated with such famous Brooklanders as Sterling Brown (the Howard University professor and Harlem Renaissance poet), Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling), Carrie Harrison (botanist and Four H leader), and Lois Malliou Jones {long time Howard faculty member and painter).

Tour Guide: John Feeley; neighborhood tour guide and occasional author

Ward: 5

67. Foggy Bottom Historic District: Working Class Rowhouses and Alleys

Saturday, September 26, 2026

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Foggy Bottom Historic District – Working Class Rowhouses and Alleys:  Stroll along shady, tree-lined sidewalks as we explore why Foggy Bottom matters in DC history. This four-block Historic District preserves a 19th-century working-class neighborhood, with 130-year-old brick alley dwellings and distinctive 12-foot-wide rowhouses. We’ll trace the area’s history—how it evolved, what remains, and what was lost—through stories of the Irish, German, Russian, and African American residents who called it home. Step back to a time when local saloons, grocery stores, churches, and even a funeral home served the neighborhood’s daily needs. Along the way, see brewery workers’ houses, DC’s most notorious alleys, and a 110-year-old livery stable.

Tour Guide: Frank Leone; Co-Chair, Foggy Bottom Association History Project, DC Licensed guide, DC History Center Board of Trustees

Ward: 2

68. Abraham Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation

Saturday, September 26, 2026

1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tour description:

The April 1862 DC Emancipation Act paid compensation to slaveholders who were required to free over 3,000 enslaved people. Three months later President Lincoln proposed that Congress create a similar program for the nation.  Read Lincoln’s proposal, written in his own hand, and see several unique Lincoln artifacts at The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church where he was a pew holder throughout his presidency. Hear how Pastor Phineas Gurley’s counsel steeled Lincoln’s commitment to winning the war as the only way to end slavery. Hear the back story of the words in 2nd Inaugural, words inscribed on the walls of the Lincoln memorial.  The tour begins outdoors at the hitching post where Lincoln tied his carriage, then moves indoors. It ends with an easy climb into the bell tower to view the 100-year-old clockworks and chimes, the only physical memorial to Lincoln ever created and dedicated to his memory by the President’s family.

Tour Guide: Len Shabman; Chair, History Program of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church

Ward: 2

69. Historical and Hysterical

Saturday, September 26, 2026

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Comedy Walks DC is historical and hysterical. Spanning nine museums from the outside, this unique tour covers the Renwick Gallery, Lafayette Park, Old Executive Office Building, Constitution Hall, WWIi Museum, WW1 Memorial, The Stone of Hope, Korean Memorial and will end up at the Lincoln Memorial. Each museum tangents between historical facts about the museum and standup comedy, impressions and music. Tour guide of the Smithsonians and 90 minute standup act in one fun filled fact filled tour.

Tour Guide: Richard Siegel; Historian, standup comic, singer/songwriter, appeared on Amazon Prime’s tv show Alpha House with John Goodman and Wanda Sykes

Ward: 2

70. The Women of Tenleytown

Saturday, September 26, 2026

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Tour description:

Discover discover the women pioneers of education, religion, architecture, and business who left their marks on Tenleytown. (Don’t worry, we’ll talk about men, too.) As you crisscross Wisconsin Avenue, you’ll learn about the community's roots and historic sites, including the civil-war era Grant Road and 18th and early 19th century estate houses.

Tour Guide: Farleigh Earhart; Neighborhood resident

Ward: 3

71. The Obliteration of Reno City

Saturday, September 26, 2026

2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tour description:

Most people know Fort Reno Park in the Tenleytown area of DC was the location of one of the Union forts that protected the nation’s capital from Confederate attack during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865). 

After the war, the fort site was returned to the property owner and sold to a real estate developer, who subdivided the rural land into about 600 small lots. The lots were purchased by whites and blacks. Some lots were developed with houses to rent and some were developed with owner-occupied houses. Over time, Reno City evolved into mostly an African American community with modest homes, three churches, and a few stores.

In the early 20th century, northwest DC, including Tenleytown, began to be developed with single family homes intended for white, upper middle-class residents. Reno City was an aberration that did not fit into the plans of the federal government nor DC officials, business leaders, real estate developers, and most local residents for the area. 

Come on the tour and learn how the community, except for Jesse Reno School (1903) and a few remnants in and around Fort Reno, was obliterated.

Tour Guide: Russ  Norfleet; Master Guide/The Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC

Ward: 3

72. Lincoln and the Civil War

Saturday, September 26, 2026

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tour description:

Examine the dozens of locales relating to President Lincoln and the Civil War, walking from the Botanic Garden and its connection to Union Navy Commodore Charles Wilkes, to the Garfield and Grant statues at the foot of the Capitol Building, the role of Jefferson Davis, Montgomery Meigs, and Phillip Reid re the Capitol's statue of freedom, past the statue of Gettysburg's Gen. Meade, to the site of Matthew Brady's photographic studio and the Grand Army of the Republic statue, up to the African-American Odd Fellows society and the Clara Barton office, past the workplace of Union Army nurse Walt Whitman, and ending at the rear of Ford's Theater for a discussion of Lincoln's assassination and aftermath.

Tour Guide: Edward Moser; Author, historian

Ward: 2

73. Sustainability Sights from Navy Yard to Anacostia

Saturday, September 26, 2026

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tour description:

The Sustainable DC plan documents the actions needed to make DC the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city for all residents. See how that plan becomes reality through projects along a route from Navy Yard metro to Anacostia metro. Along the way, you'll learn how DC is making composting more convenient, how the tourism and hospitality industry is leaning into sustainability, and the innovative green building techniques taking shape in Anacostia. We'll walk across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge as part of the tour, getting a great view of the Anacostia River and hearing about the efforts to make the river swimmable and fishable.

Tour Guide: Oana Leahu-Aluas; Sustainability Program Analyst at the Department of Energy and Environment

Ward: 8

74. All Good in Deanwood

Saturday, September 26, 2026

3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Tour description:

The Deanwood Marvin Gaye Trail Tour celebrates the rich cultural, musical, and environmental heritage of one of Washington, D.C.'s oldest African American communities. The tour explores Marvin Gaye's connection to the neighborhood while highlighting Deanwood's history, community pride, and ongoing revitalization. Participants travel along the scenic Marvin Gaye Trail through Marvin Gaye Park and the restored Watts Branch stream, learning about local history, environmental conservation, public art, and neighborhood landmarks. Key stops include Marvin Gaye Park, the Marvin Gaye Recreation Center, Lady Bird Johnson Meadows, and nearby historic sites such as the Nannie Helen Burroughs School and the former Suburban Gardens Amusement Park. Throughout the experience, guides share stories of music, resilience, and community development that have shaped Deanwood's identity. Participants are encouraged to bring comfortable walking shoes, water, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, a camera or smartphone, and light snacks to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and memorable outdoor tour experience.

Tour Guide: Paul  Spires; Tour Guide

Ward: 7

75. Rising Tides of DC (Bike Tour)

Saturday, September 26, 2026

3 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Tour description:

While some want to “drain the swamp,” they would be more productive considering how to help DC (and the region) prepare for increased tidal flooding in our region. Sea levels are rising, our portion of the Chesapeake Basin is “settling,” and Washington DC is projected to see a dramatic increase in tidal flooding in the next 20 years. In fact, DC is predicted to experience tidal flooding twice as bad as any city along the East Coast! Join Jeff Miller, DC Cycling Concierge, for an enlightening ride around many of DC’s landmarks and thoroughfares that exist where they do because of our geographic history, and are at significant risk due to climate change. On this 2-hour bike tour we’ll roll along the rivers, canal ways and flood prone areas of our great city, which also happen to be some of the more scenic and vibrant neighborhoods.

Tour Guide: Jeff Miller; Owner, principal guide, licensed DC guide, and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington DC