Historic Georgetown Walking Tour

Overview

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.

City: Washington DC

Tue 20 Jan

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

Tue 20 Jan

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional, Licensed Guide

Additional Info

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

What To Expect

Georgetown

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.

C & O Canal

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.

Old Stone House

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.

Georgetown University

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.

"The Exorcist" Steps

We end the tour near the Exorcist Steps, a historic stairway that became famous thanks to the 1970s film of the same name.

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (223)

c82092737

Jan 2018

I joined the Historical Georgetown tour and the guide was Rebecca Grawl. She is AMAZING! She is so knowledgeable about the city and told us lots of history and interesting things about the place. Georgetown is such a lovely place with many elegant and unique houses. Becca showed us the houses once occupied by historical great men, such as President Kennedy’s house and elaborated the things happened there. In the last stop, Georgetown University, she stayed at the point, patiently answered everyone’s question and also recommended more places to explore and eat. So glad that I joined the Free tour by foot in DC and met such a nice guide, which really makes the trip memorable!

HSIAO-YUN C

Nov 2017

I felt very lucky to have joined two of the tours with our guide Dan King, who has been not only knowledgeable but also passionate towards tours he was giving. We could always interact with him (with questions, ideas .... etc. ) during the tours, and he always replied with in great mood and sometimes would talk about information in depth, which made the interactions meaningful and joyful. Besides, another merit (and probably one of the most cherishable ones) I discovered of him was the sincerity of treating people, which I tend to think would be the key that made the tours touching and most memorable.

David R

Sep 2017

Through a scheduling mixup, there was no guide at the appointed time, and the phone number on the victor confirmation took a while to respond. Ultimately we got a guide's phone number and he showed up 40 minutes late. Once there, the tour was fine. And well worth the money. A lovely tour of Georgetown, with lots of interesting stories.