Attractions & guided tours

Historic Georgetown private half-day walking tour

Free cancellation

Place: Washington DC

Duration: 3 hours

Language: English

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Guided Tour

Private Tour

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Private group

Do this because

Discover a host of iconic names that have resided in the neighborhood including John F and Jackie Kennedy, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, and chef Julia Child
Marvel at the pre-revolutionary buildings and the architecture
Learn about the neighborhood’s post-civil war flourishing African American community
Stroll the historic Georgetown campus, and learn about the relationship between the school and the rest of the city

What to expect

On this leisurely walking tour, you will be immersed in one of the most historically significant parts of Washington D.C., known for its wealth of historic buildings and graceful way of life. Delve into Georgetown's colonial and Federal period history with a private guide, who will bring to life stories of long-standing traditions, high society and world politics.

Described as a “dirty little hole” by Abigail Adams, the former First Lady of the United States, Georgetown had humble beginnings: as a working port, on the banks of the slurry-filed Potomac River. Named after King George II, and founded in 1751, Georgetown served as a depot for the collection and shipment of military supplies during the Revolution.

After the Civil War, large numbers of freed slaves migrated to Georgetown and a thriving African American community flourished, establishing businesses and neighborhoods. However, by the 1890s, the area had undergone a drastic decline and in the aftermath of World War I, it was considered one of Washington's worst slums. Within a generation, the trend had all but completely reversed. When a young Senator John F. Kennedy resided in the neighborhood in the 1950s, Georgetown was the place to be and be seen. Home to world-class shopping, rich history, five-star restaurants and one of the world’s best universities - in fact, the university for anyone looking to enter a career in Washington - Georgetown is a neighborhood that simply cannot be missed.