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Historic Georgetown Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour
4.8
165 Ratings
Washington
Step back in time and explore the historic landmarks of Georgetown on a 2-hour walking tour. Discover the stories behind the Kennedy and Lincoln families, the Old Stone House, Georgetown University, and more.
Duration:
2 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Georgetown - The port Georgetown goes back centuries and is today know for its cobblestone streets, historic homes and gardens, and is seen as a shopping and dining district. Exploring the area on foot is the best way to go back in time and enjoy the park like atmosphere with all of its old brick and greenery.
- C & O Canal - The historic canal through the industrial section of Georgetown, guests will learn about the canal boats and see a working “lock” (gate) the helped the boats travel to and from along the canal.
- Old Stone House - Certainly one of the oldest buildings in the entire city, this quaint spot is run by the National Parks Service and has a lovely garden to sit and take a rest in. Built in 1766, it was a car dealership by 1953 when it was taken over for historic preservation. Now it is ours to enjoy and remember a simpler time when tobacco and tall tales traded at the nearby port.
- Newton D. Baker House - See one of many homes associated with the Kennedy family, who lived in nearly a dozen different homes in the neighborhood.
- Georgetown University - Founded in 1789, this prestigious Jesuit University is know far and wide for its medical, legal, and undergraduate programs. See the towering spires of the Patrick Healy building and the statue of founder John Carrol. On a warm day students will lounge in the grass out front throwing frisbees, reading, and socializing.
- “The Exorcist” Steps - We end the tour near the Exorcist Steps, a historic stairway that became famous thanks to the 1970s film of the same name.
- Martin’s Tavern - A Georgetown institution, this restaurant has been locally owned since 1933. The dark wood panels, black and white photos on the wall, and the regulars at the bar give this place a certain sense of nostalgia and ambiance. The classic American fare keeps people coming back year after year with both indoor and outdoor seating
What's Included
- Professional, Licensed Guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Take a guided walking tour of a historic neighborhood older than DC itself. One of our guides (Canden Schwantes) wrote the book(s) on Georgetown. See the colonial charm of canals, cobblestoned streets, historic homes, & intriguing history.
You will see and hear stories of:
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Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - a waterway through the industrial part of the neighborhood.
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Old Stone House - oldest residential building in the district, now a National Park site.
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Homes of Jackie & John F. Kennedy - hear about their time in Georgetown before and after his assassination
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18th and 19th Century Homes - learn about the diverse, historic architecture of the houses and the stories of those who have lived here. Look for original firemarks, coal chutes, ironworks, and gas lanterns.
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Hear stories of the Black Georgetown community, immigrants who shaped the neighborhood, and women who bucked social norms.
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Georgetown University - see the famous campus and learn how the neighborhood influenced it.
Location
Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Historical Park In Georgetown
Tour begins at the Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Historical Park In Georgetown
by Lock 3 between Thomas Jefferson and 30th St NW - there is a large park on the north side of the canal. Look for your guide in orange.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(165 Ratings)
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Diane_h
Aug 25, 2024
Great way to learn about the neighborhood - Outstanding tour with Georgia. Great combination of factual history told via stories. Just the right pace. She knew the neighborhood and made recommendations for lunch, where to go next, etc. She made the whole experience so much better!!
Review provided by Viator
Karen_h
Aug 21, 2024
Awesome and fun tour! - Rebecca was a fun, informative and entertaining guide! She gave us fun facts and history in a very engaging way! This was a great tour and well worth it!
Review provided by Viator
Dianne_k
Aug 21, 2024
Georgetown tour with Becca - We did this tour with Becca as our tour guide. We were travelling with our 21 year old son from Australia.
Becca was extremely knowledgeable and presented very clearly. We all found the tour to be really interesting and highly recommend!!
Review provided by Viator
Maryanng882
Aug 17, 2024
Fantastic Tour! - Great job by Ineborg on walking the streets of Georgetown. Fun. Informative. Easy to communicate with and fantastic experience. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maryjo_g
Jul 31, 2024
Georgetown DC - Katherine was knowledgeable about the history, the architectural details of Georgetown, and added the right amount of humor to make it a great tour.
There is a closer metro stop to C&O towpath, fyi. We had to walk fast, and we were still late!
Review provided by Viator
Travel2dabble
Jul 28, 2024
Interesting tour - This was a wonderful and informative tour. Our guide Ingeborg was very knowledgeable. We saw many famous homes. I went in not knowing much about Georgetown. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T6529wrwhitneyw
Jul 23, 2024
Best Georgetown Tour - This was the most WONDERFUL experience. Our guide was very kind and personable at the same time as being professional and knowledgeable. It was a super fun tour. The time flew by and I learned a lot. I would do this same tour again even if it was the exact information. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Florian_k
Jul 17, 2024
Great walking tour ! - Ingeborg our guide was fantastic, we enjoyed the tour very much. She brought the historical background nicely, as well as all the developments (and scandals) happening.
A must go !
Review provided by Viator
Terry
Jul 12, 2024
Excellent Tour! - Excellent Tour! Dan did a great job educating us about several historical homes during our tour. He knowledge of history combined with his humour insights made the tour especially enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A402samaryh
Aug 23, 2024
Walking tour of Georgetown - Great overview of historical Georgetown. Wesley was quite informative and knowledgeable. Loved all the charming old homes.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
