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Alleyways of DC: Hidden History Walking Tour
5.0
24 Ratings
Washington
Explore DC’s historic Shaw alleyways, uncover hidden stories, and enjoy a coffee break. Join our 1.5-hour tour every 1st Sunday at 2pm.
Explore DC’s historic Shaw alleyways, uncover hidden stories, and enjoy a coffee break. Join our 1.5-hour tour every 1st Sunday at 2pm.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Blanche K. Bruce House - Blanche K. Bruce was the first African American to serve a full term as Senator, and rose to his position during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. The tour starts as the location of his residence while he was serving his Senatorial term.
- Blagden Alley Northwest - Blagden Alley is one of DC’s most…
- Blanche K. Bruce House - Blanche K. Bruce was the first African American to serve a full term as Senator, and rose to his position during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. The tour starts as the location of his residence while he was serving his Senatorial term.
- Blagden Alley Northwest - Blagden Alley is one of DC’s most well-preserved historic alleyways. Once the subject of a study of DC alleyways, it is now the site of art galleries, hidden-away restaurants and coffee shops.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters - The tour makes a pit stop at this popular coffee spot.
- D.C. Alley Museum - Beginning in 2015, a series of works were commissioned by artists with a history in the Shaw neighborhood and in Blagden Alley — They created a stunning display of new works painted directly on the garage doors of several buildings in Bladgen Alley.
- Naylor Court Northwest - Naylor Court is a former site of alleyway stables, and later old fashioned garages. It is a part of the Blagden Alley - Naylor Court Historic District.
What's Included
- Up to 2 hours of a unique walking tour experience
- Knowledgeable guide
- Up to 2 hours of a unique walking tour experience
- Knowledgeable guide
What's Not Included
- Tea and coffee
- Tea and coffee
Additional Information
2025 Schedule - Tours are available on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 2pm.
Discover one of Washington DC’s most distinctive features, located less than a mile from the National Mall in the historic Shaw neighborhood, close to the Convention Center.
The Alleyways of DC were originally designed as a city planning element, but they also offered a…
2025 Schedule - Tours are available on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at 2pm.
Discover one of Washington DC’s most distinctive features, located less than a mile from the National Mall in the historic Shaw neighborhood, close to the Convention Center.
The Alleyways of DC were originally designed as a city planning element, but they also offered a concealed refuge where escaped enslaved individuals and the impoverished could find affordable housing and live their lives away from public scrutiny. Although city officials criticized life in the alleyways as hazardous, unsanitary, and unhealthy, they were actually places where communities supported one another and provided safety.
The tour lasts 1.5 hours and includes a midway stop at La Colombe Coffee.
Location
Blanche K. Bruce House
M Street Northwest
The northwest corner of M Street and 9th Street NW
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(24 Ratings)
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235wendyt
Nov 4, 2024
Excellent way to see beyond the tourist sights! - Easily one of my favorite DC tours (we're local and go on quite a few!). Katie had real historic insights and put them into the context of today's city life. If you feel like you know all there is to know about DC, take this tour and you'll learn more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_r
Oct 23, 2024
Alleyways of DC - This was an incredibly fun learning experience! Our guide was knowledgeable, personable, and entertaining! I highly recommend this tour to anyone wishing to know about the important role alleyways played in the history of DC.
Review provided by Viator
B1442iadavids
May 6, 2024
Injecting modern perspectives into history to ignite it - Katie was a wonderful tour guide! She was well-informed, highly engaged with her subject and open to discussion about various elements of the material she shared. My friends were also impressed and grateful that they had been invited to join the tour. Katie does her homework and recognizes that communities change and evolve. She is a history student. Katie has also learned how to share the past in the context of present-day life to bring the past to life. I highly recommend this tour and Katie as your guide,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thecluelessronin
Apr 12, 2023
An Enlightening Tour to Our Local History - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
110bogdant
Mar 16, 2023
Gem off the beaten path--A tour not to be missed - 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.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lmooon
Nov 2, 2022
Phenomenal tour! - 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!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davesukharan
Oct 31, 2022
Discovered a lost civilization with a hundred year history while sipping coffee in beautiful alleys - Katie was an EXCELLENT tour guide. She tailored the tour to our group, the environment, and our questions and reactions. We wandered and chatted as we walked along the most beautiful alleyways I have ever been in. Katie was well-researched and shared a narrative that had us all hooked. I can honestly say that I mourned the rise and fall of an entire culture/civilization that I hadn't even been aware of until the tour.
Are you a DC local? This tour is a must. Are you a tourist who wants something more than the same 12 photos we all take? Do this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M4129gmdebraw
Oct 9, 2022
Go beyond the obvious sights! - What a great way to learn about DC beyond the obvious! Katie knows the ins and outs of what makes DC such a fascinating city. The Historic Alleyways tour was eye-opening in how the city started and grew. This is a perfect way to explore and gain a historical perspective on the city's cultural shifts over time. Katie's tour would be the best way to start a first-time visit to DC, but it is also valuable for residents who may not be aware of the city's hidden gems. As a resident, I look forward to taking all of Katie's tours. I see DC in a new light and with an appreciation for its path to the present day. Katie has an effortless, knowledgeable style, answered questions, and set the perfect tone and pace for the tour. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Luckymomof5
May 7, 2022
Informative, Interesting, and Incredible - Katie shared a lesser-known history of Washington D.C. and its alleyways. I'm so glad we did this Off the Mall tour, I've been sharing facts with friends who asked about my trip all week! I would definitely recommend catching any of the Off the Mall tours with Katie if you have time while you are visiting DC. Actually, even if you're a native (we had two DC local couples on our tour with us), you will likely learn something you didn't know before. My 13-year-old daughter enjoyed the tour as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bk1986here
May 4, 2022
Best Tour in Washington DC - I received vouchers for Off the Mall Tours as a gift and it was an incredible experience. Katie was the best tour guide we could have asked for and was able to show us a part of Washington DC that I never knew existed. I highly recommend the Alleyway tour to learn more about the history of the Blagden Ally area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
