Madams of DC Walking Tour

Overview

This tour is offered the first and third Friday of the month. Check website for exact schedule. All tours available for private tours.

The Madams in DC walking tour gives you a totally unique side of DC's history that you won't hear anywhere else. The Civil War completely transformed the capital, and turned Pennsylvania Avenue into a red light district lined with bawdy houses, taverns, theaters, and commercial ventures. Hard to imagine, now that it's lined with monolithic government buildings! You'll learn about how the women who worked in these brothels made their way in life, and even had an impact on affairs of government.

City: Washington DC

Wed 09 Jul

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

Wed 09 Jul

Starting at $30.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

2.5 hours of fascinating information by an experienced guide. No entry fees necessary.

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
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Guests must be able to be on their feet for at least 2 hours.

What To Expect

Freedom Plaza

Where Freedom Plaza is now once used to be the notorious neighborhood known as Murder Bay. As we walk through this spacious open area currently used for festivals and music events, you'll hear all about the taverns, gambling houses, and brothels popular with Northern Arm soldiers that used to stand there.

The National Archives Museum

Continuing in our journey through time, you'll learn about the lives of prostitutes in Civil War DC and the part they played in society, as we pass by the former site of the largest central urban Market in DC.

National Gallery of Art

The former site of Marble Alley, where two of DC's highest paid Madams had a vicious rivalry.

National Museum of the American Indian

An archeological dig discovered the remains of DC most notorious, and yet charitable, Madams. The tour ends at this, the most glamorous of DC's Civil War-era pleasure houses.

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Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (68)

zolas2023

May 2023

Great tour experience! Katie was engaging and knowledgeable, as we walked she shed light on a lesser-known aspect of the city's history, with fascinating stories of the enterprising women of the Civil War era. It was an intimate group with plenty of stops to compare the city scape of the past to the present, the historic pictures shes collected were a great touch. Booked this tour for the same day on a solo trip to the city, the route was easily manageable with a stop midway for drinks and a break. Highly recommend this tour and this small business for a non traditional DC history lesson.

aoifer705

May 2023

Excellent tour with great historical context into why sex work was so prolific during the Civil War era in DC up to the temperance age and suffragette movement when it became abolished. Would absolutely recommend!

Z6025IUstephenp

Apr 2023

We had a lot of fun with Katie. It was just the right mix of big picture history and fun anecdotes that helped us better understand DC during the Civil War era, as well as the role of sex workers across various eras.