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(397)
We did the tour with Ingeborg. She was born and raised in Georgetown, and it shows through her love for the neighborhood and depth of knowledge. We had only six persons in our group tour, so it was comfortable. Ingeborg was outstanding. She was knowledgeable with a great sense of humor and timing as she told us history and insider scoops on historical Georgetown. The tour is well conceived and well-paced to allow us to see important historical buildings and multiple architectural styles. We have traveled to 50 countries and done many city historical walking tours. This is one of the best we have done.
I’ve been on some great tours but I can honestly say this has been my favorite by far. Wayne was so knowledgeable and funny. There wasn’t a moment during the two hour tour that I wasn’t engaged. Couldn’t recommend going on this tour enough!
Thank you! We're thrilled this was your favorite tour! Wayne's knowledge and humor truly make the experience special. We really appreciate your recommendation!
Wesley was an excellent tour guide! We were able to see a couple of JFK's places plus the staircase from The Exorcist. **Could Viator please adjust the starting point for this tour? I copy/pasted the address from Viator into the Uber app and was given the wrong location. The starting point is between 30th and Thomas Jefferson somewhere near The Old Stone House. Not at The Old Stone House...just near it. Please confirm with tour guides. Thank you!
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed the tour with Wesley and appreciate the helpful feedback about the meeting point. We'll make sure this is passed along to the team.
Interesting tour around Georgetown with history and local information including places to visit and eat
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed exploring Georgetown and appreciated the local history and recommendations. We hope you had a wonderful time!
Tour guide Colin was very knowledgeable. Experience was great. We all enjoyed the Georgetown Walking Tour.
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed the Georgetown Walking Tour with Colin. His knowledge made the experience even better. We appreciate your kind words!
Don’t get me wrong, there was much to see and learn during this hot day in August. I do think it would be better with the use of a microphone and ear buds. The talking as we walked was difficult to hear. Much of those conversations were between the guide and one or two guests but others were left out of hearing what was being said but I know interesting things were being talked about. I would have enjoyed more history of past and current events in Georgetown. There were periods of long walks where nothing was being said I kept thinking, “this is Georgetown, there has to be more to it than what we are learning”. Lots of walking on a hot day. The town could use a few sidewalk benches. This may be a tour best done by an electric vehicle like we rode on a night tour of DC. The guide was good but I just think he has more knowledge of history than we were getting. Make the questions and answers being asked by the guests known to all.
Thank you for the detailed feedback. We're glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciate your helpful suggestions regarding audio, pacing, and content.
Colin was a fantastic guide! Very knowledgeable and his love for the city is evident by the way he gives his tour. He was very mindful of the heat, always finding shady spots and even letting us take a water break at a local cafe. All in all we had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back to take Colin's other tours! Much love, Brendan and Mykaela from Salem, Massachusetts <3
Thank you, Brendan and Mykaela! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Colin and appreciated his care in the heat. We look forward to welcoming you back for another tour!
Very hot and tiring but well worth the effort. Bring a lot of water if you’re walking in the summer. Katherine was very knowledgeable and quite delightful to tour with.
Thank you! We're glad you found the tour worthwhile and enjoyed it with Katherine. We appreciate the helpful tip about staying hydrated in the summer!
wayne was an excellent tour guide. he was very knowledgeable about the area and keep the group entertained.
Thank you! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour with Wayne. His knowledge and entertaining style make the experience truly memorable. We appreciate your kind words!
Awesome experience. Engaging guide (thanks Katherine!) who was knowledgeable and funny! We learned a lot about the history of the area and specific homes on the tour. Highly recommend.
Thank you! We're so glad you had an awesome experience with Katherine. Her humor and knowledge make the history come alive. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
