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Harlem Renaissance Tour: DC's Jazz History
4.9
37 Ratings
Washington
Experience the vibrant history of the Harlem Renaissance in DC on this engaging walking tour. Discover the music, literature, and cultural impact of African Americans in U Street NW. Join us on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 2pm!
Experience the vibrant history of the Harlem Renaissance in DC on this engaging walking tour. Discover the music, literature, and cultural impact of African Americans in U Street NW. Join us on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 2pm!
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Howard Theatre - Established in 1910, Howard Theatre was the first venue in DC to provide a platform for African American performers. It has been a significant part of the DC music and arts community ever since.
- Right Proper Brewing Company - Located at the former site of Frank Holliday’s Pool Hall, where Duke Ellington began exploring…
- Howard Theatre - Established in 1910, Howard Theatre was the first venue in DC to provide a platform for African American performers. It has been a significant part of the DC music and arts community ever since.
- Right Proper Brewing Company - Located at the former site of Frank Holliday’s Pool Hall, where Duke Ellington began exploring ragtime and jazz piano.
- 1910 Vermont Ave NW - The previous residence of African American opera singer Lilian Evanti, who gained international recognition before returning to Washington DC to influence black contributions to classical music.
- Bohemian Caverns - Once a jazz icon, Bohemian Caverns was a must-visit during U Street’s era as DC’s “Black Broadway.”
- Lincoln Theatre - A prominent theater and show house during the Black Broadway period.
- Ben’s Chili Bowl - A legendary eatery for three generations, frequented by Presidents and tourists, where the tour pauses for refreshments.
- 1901 14th St NW - The former location of Club Bali, a favored performance venue for Billie Holiday.
- 1461 S St NW - This residence hosted the Saturday Nighter’s Club, where discussions on poetry, social justice, and black culture took place.
What's Included
- 2-hour guided tour of DC History with an expert guide.
- 2-hour guided tour of DC History with an expert guide.
What's Not Included
- Food and Drink purchased at Ben’s Chili Bowl or Ben’s Next Door
- Food and Drink purchased at Ben’s Chili Bowl or Ben’s Next Door
Additional Information
This incredible walking tour invites participants to explore a time when U Street NW in Washington, DC, was the heart of African American music and intellectual life. Jazz resonated throughout the area, while Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer emerged as prominent writers of the era, and initiatives to record African American history were in progress….
This incredible walking tour invites participants to explore a time when U Street NW in Washington, DC, was the heart of African American music and intellectual life. Jazz resonated throughout the area, while Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer emerged as prominent writers of the era, and initiatives to record African American history were in progress. Experience the beginnings of the Harlem Renaissance as it unfolded in DC! The tour includes a mid-way stop at the renowned Ben’s Chili Bowl, offering optional refreshments and a restroom break.
Location
The Howard Theatre
T Street Northwest
The tour will begin in front of the Howard Theater on T 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
4.9
(37 Ratings)
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John_a
Nov 15, 2025
From Harlem to DC - Excellent communication from start to finish. My tour was a little lite in numbers but certainly not lite in information. Katie is indeed excellent at her passion and we as a family are certainly more informed on the spillover of the Harlem Renaissance with regards to Washington DC. Moderate walking but at a very good pace…the two hour tour will fly by so make sure you ask your questions because at a blink of the eye the fun will be done. I can’t wait to tour more with Off the Mall Walking Tour…it’s something about getting out and about and learning on the go that works for me.
Review provided by Viator
Jean-francis
Aug 10, 2025
The real DC is Off the Mall! - A hidden gem of DC more people need to know about. Whether you’re a history buff (like me :-) or just into discovering the beauty of the city on foot with good company and and a great tour guide - this is it.
I took the Harlem Renaissance in DC tour and loved the route, information & curation - the guide dressed in beautiful 1920s regalia only added to energy.
I take my fun & my facts very seriously; if you want the real DC (Chocolate City, home of Go-Go & Hard-Core Punk, Civil Rights, the shadows of global power and more), stay off the mall & take this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diana_d
Oct 6, 2024
Fun and Enlightening Tour - This was a great experience! The walking and seeing the actual place where the artist performed made the experience upfront and real. Katie, our tour guide is an awesome commentator and very knowledgeable. The stop by Ben’s Chili bowl was phenomenal. I would recommend this tour to friends and family.
Review provided by Viator
L6416tosusanw
Oct 16, 2023
Learn something new; see DC - Fun and interesting tour. Katie was so knowledgeable and shared many bits of history I did not know about the era and neighborhood. Perfectly timed pit stop at Ben’s Cili Bowl. Great way to see a DC neighborhood!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
992alishak
May 11, 2023
Engaging Tour that Shows Another Side of the Harlem Renaissance - I am a college professor who has taken her students on walking tours in Harlem. I decided to try the Harlem Renaissance in DC tour for a change of pace, and I'm very glad that I did. I couldn't bring my class along as planned, but I took the tour anyway with my family. My 12-year old remained attentive if not engaged throughout the tour. Katie is very professional and knowledgeable about the period and the neighborhoods along the tour route. She dressed in 1920s attire and played jazz music during our walk. Instead of sticking to a prepared script she responded to questions and elaborated on different points based on our interests. Many historic sites in NYC related to the Harlem Renaissance have been repurposed or torn down. There are a significant number of sites still standing in DC, however. Overall, it was a great experience, and I highly recommend this tour for everyone. Curious tourists, history buffs, students, and scholars can all learn something long the way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bdwagon
May 5, 2023
Excellent walking tour of the Shaw neighborhood of DC - This was an excellent walking tour of the Shaw neighborhood of DC, mapping out the connections of the community with the Harlem renaissance. Tour guide Katie was very knowledgeable and her commentary was well-researched and delivered with enthusiasm. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W6094dwandreac
Nov 28, 2022
Awesome way to learn about the Harlem Renaissance in DC - This tour was phenomenal. Daarel was our guide. He was really engaging, provided a wealth of information and answered all of our questions. We learned so much and had a great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
751alayahj
Nov 15, 2022
A great tour of the Harlem Reneissance - What a great tour! Our guide was very well versed in the information she spoke about. She has lovely energy and added her own personal touches by incorporating music and dressing for the part. It was a well organized tour that I recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Inspire484221
Nov 13, 2022
Great experience - Great cultural experience lots of information I didn’t know would love to take the trip again in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
903nylah
Sep 18, 2022
Great way to spend an afternoon: Harlem Renaissance in DC - This was such a cool walking tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had done plenty of research on the history of Black writers and musicians who were from or got their start in DC. She took us to some gems that I will certainly be going back to, and gave us some tips on where to find local jazz. I moved to DC recently and found this tour a great learning experience about the rich culture of African Americans in DC that I wouldn’t get from the big tourist attractions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
