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Offered languages
- English
For Fall 2025, Tour is held the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturday of the month at 2pm.
Someone visiting Georgetown today may see it as another wealthy enclave in a continuously gentrifying Washington, DC. However, this charming area has a diverse history. Originally a busy port for the export of tobacco, it was also the site of an active slave trade, and at one point African Americans counted as 30% of the Georgetown population. Descendants of those enslaved peoples and black free folk have lived in Georgetown for generations, but their contributions to its history do not often receive the same recognition. This tour will reveal the stories of the black citizens who made their mark on one of DC’s oldest neighborhoods.
The tour starts at 3206 O Street NW DC and ends at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, at 2501 Mill Rd. NW. There is a half-way stop at Thomas Sweet Shop for a bathroom break and refreshment.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Guests will meet in front of Fiola Mare on the waterfront side of the Georgetown Waterfront.
Itinerary
-
1
The gothic-style Healy Hall was built at the direction of, and named for, Georgetown University's only black President, Patrick Healy.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Pomander Walk used to be Bell's Court, owned by Alexander Graham Bell. Bell's Court was characteristic of alleyway communities throughout DC, where you had a close-knit black community.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
The tour takes a half-way stop at Thomas Sweet for refreshment and a bathroom break.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
The row houses at this address used to serve as holding pens for the enslaved. The pens were torn down by an Irish entrepreneur who had themselves spent their childhood as an indentured servant in the West Indies.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
The house of Emma Brown, who was one of the first black teachers in DC to reach the level of Principal.
Admission ticket free -
5
The Mount Zion United Methodist Church is one of the oldest black congregations in Georgetown.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
This historic park was the site of numerous political rallies and community gatherings for the black community in Georgetown.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
This is the oldest cemetery in Georgetown, which contains the remains of enslaved and free black citizens.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
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
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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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
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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