Historic Georgetown: History, Gossip, & Architecture Walking Tour
Description
Take a guided walking tour of a historic neighborhood older than DC itself. One of our guides (Canden Schwantes) wrote the book(s) on Georgetown. See the colonial charm of canals, cobblestoned streets, historic homes, & intriguing history. You will see and hear stories of: - Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - a waterway through the industrial part of the neighborhood. - Old Stone House - oldest residential building in the district, now a National Park site. - Homes of Jackie & John F. Kennedy - hear about their time in Georgetown before and after his assassination - 18th and 19th Century Homes - learn about the diverse, historic architecture of the houses and the stories of those who have lived here. Look for original firemarks, coal chutes, ironworks, and gas lanterns. - Hear stories of the Black Georgetown community, immigrants who shaped the neighborhood, and women who bucked social norms. - Georgetown University - see the famous campus and learn how the neighborhood influenced it.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The port Georgetown goes back centuries and is today know for its cobblestone streets, historic homes and gardens, and is seen as a shopping and dining district. Exploring the area on foot is the best way to go back in time and enjoy the park like atmosphere with all of its old brick and greenery.
The historic canal through the industrial section of Georgetown, guests will learn about the canal boats and see a working "lock" (gate) the helped the boats travel to and from along the canal.
Certainly one of the oldest buildings in the entire city, this quaint spot is run by the National Parks Service and has a lovely garden to sit and take a rest in. Built in 1766, it was a car dealership by 1953 when it was taken over for historic preservation. Now it is ours to enjoy and remember a simpler time when tobacco and tall tales traded at the nearby port.
See one of many homes associated with the Kennedy family, who lived in nearly a dozen different homes in the neighborhood.
Founded in 1789, this prestigious Jesuit University is know far and wide for its medical, legal, and undergraduate programs. See the towering spires of the Patrick Healy building and the statue of founder John Carrol. On a warm day students will lounge in the grass out front throwing frisbees, reading, and socializing.
We end the tour near the Exorcist Steps, a historic stairway that became famous thanks to the 1970s film of the same name.
A Georgetown institution, this restaurant has been locally owned since 1933. The dark wood panels, black and white photos on the wall, and the regulars at the bar give this place a certain sense of nostalgia and ambiance. The classic American fare keeps people coming back year after year with both indoor and outdoor seating
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(380)
This your was so fun and REALLY interesting! Everyone in our party loved it and the ages spanned from 17 to 83
Thank you! We're so glad everyone in your group had a great time. It's wonderful to hear the tour was enjoyable for all ages. We appreciate your kind words!
Great all around, fantastic time, highly recommend.
Thank you! We're thrilled you had a fantastic time. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again soon!
Wayne did a wonderful job explaining the history of the Georgetown area with amusing anecdotal stories. We especially appreciated the story about stubby the dog. Wayne is very knowledgeable as well as being an entertaining guide. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone visiting the DC area.
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Wayne. His storytelling and knowledge truly bring Georgetown's history to life. We appreciate your recommendation!
Our guide, Vicky from DC by Foot Tours, was fantastic! Knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and kind enough to find shade on a sweltering June morning whenever she could! She had a lot of fascinating stories about the buildings and people of the historic Georgetown neighborhood. Highly recommend!
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed your Georgetown tour with Vicky. Her knowledge, humor, and thoughtful care for guests truly make the experience special. We appreciate your recommendation!
Colin was an excellent guide. Very interesting and knowledgeable about Georgetown in general. I would highly recommend him.
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Colin. We appreciate your recommendation and are happy his knowledge helped make the experience memorable!
Rebecca was awesome, interesting and informative with a great sense of humor! Highly recommend this tour
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Rebecca. Her humor and knowledge truly make for a fantastic experience. We appreciate your recommendation!
Wesley was an excellent guide, providing many explanations and stories, easy to understand, and the route of this visit is very interesting to take, we recommend it!
Thank you! We're delighted you enjoyed the tour with Wesley. We're glad his storytelling and clear explanations made the experience enjoyable, and we truly appreciate your recommendation!
The tour guide, Georgia, was knowledgeable, friendly, and energetic. She shared historical information that was both interesting and contained stories and people that I haven’t even heard of before. I plan to read a book she suggested that was based on Pamela Harriman’s life and why she is import to American history. Overall, I would 10/10 suggest this tour.
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Georgia. Her passion for history and storytelling truly make the experience memorable. We appreciate your 10/10 recommendation!
Vicky was a wonderful guide. She’s so knowledgeable about Georgetown, the history, the fun facts delivered with a sense of humor. She’s very adaptable and attentive to your needs. I couldn’t walk very far today as I was not feeling well. She adjusted immediately. Highly recommend Vicky as your tour guide!
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed your tour with Vicky. Her knowledge, humor, and attentiveness truly make for a special experience. We appreciate your recommendation!
This tour was fantastic! Georgia was very knowledgeable and clearly loves what she does. We saw a lot of beautiful architecture and learned a lot of fun things about the neighborhood over the years.
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're glad you loved exploring the neighborhood's beautiful architecture and history with Georgia. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her!
