Historic Alleyways in Washington, DC

Overview

*2025 Schedule - Tour is offered the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 2pm.

Check out one of DC's most unique features, less than a mile away from the National Mall, in the historic Shaw neighborhood, near the Convention Center.

The Alleyways of DC served a distinct purpose as a city planning feature, but they also provided a hidden safe space where escaped enslaved people and the poor could find inexpensive housing and live their lives away from prying eyes. While city officials condemned life in the alleyways as dangerous, dirty and diseased, they were in fact a place where communities sustained each other and provided security.

Tour is 1.5 hours with a halfway stop at La Colombe Coffee.

City: Washington DC

Wed 17 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

Wed 17 Dec

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Up to 2 hours of a unique walking tour experience by a knowledgeable guide.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (24)

thecluelessronin

Apr 2023

I mentioned the tour to my friends as a new thing to learn more about the area we lived or worked close to. We learned so much. From me geeking out about the significance of the names of Metro Stations relating to the history to my friend realizing she was walking to work and passing so much history, we enjoyed ourselves so much! Katie is a fantastic storyteller and such a nice person. She obviously knows her history and delivers the knowledge with compassion and the respect it deserves. Now I wonder what history I am driving or walking by and it's made my commute so much more interesting. Definitely recommend it for locals and tourists alike!

110bogdant

Mar 2023

Excellent tour. The tour guide and owner of the company, Katie, is passionate about DC and history. She is generally an erudite and inspired speaker with deep knowledge of the community. I have also done other tours with this company and wholeheartedly recommend each of the ones I have done (e.g., wives that won the Cold War). If you have more than a couple days in DC, do not miss this opportunity to explore the city beyond the standard tourist sites. Even as somewhat of a local, I have found these opportunities genuinely eye-opening.

lmooon

Nov 2022

Don't miss this incredible tour!! I had no idea what it would be going into it, figured it would be looking at some street art in alleyways. It is WAY MORE than that. Katie has done an outstanding amount of historical research to educate us about the communities that lived in D.C. alleyways – at one point about 1/5 of the population of the city! The tour was incredibly engaging the entire time. I learned so much and have told many people about it. One of the best tours I've ever been on in my life!!