We Found These Experiences For You (16)
Georgetown
Explore the rags-to-riches tale of DC’s oldest neighborhood, from humble port town to elite enclave
Tour Overview Founded more than 50 years before Washington became the capital, Georgetown began as a gritty port town on the banks of the Potomac. Though it was once dismissed by First Lady Abigail Adams as a “dirty little hole,” today Georgetown is one of DC’s most charming and sought-after neighborhoods. ...
Dupont Circle & Embassy Row
Hear the fascinating stories, colorful scandals, and architectural grandeur that define Embassy Row
Tour Overview Gilded Age mansions, high-stakes diplomacy, and sordid scandals converge in Dupont Circle, once on the rural edge of the capital and later a playground for Washington’s wealthy. Today, its tree-lined streets showcase some of the city’s most striking architecture, from stately Neoclassical ...
Capitol Hill
Take a deep dive into the architecture, intrigue, and symbolism at the heart of American government.
Tour Overview Step into the epicenter of American democracy, where architecture and planning reflect the ambitions, hopes, and contradictions of government. From Pierre L’Enfant’s visionary city plan to the dramatic rise of the U.S. Capitol, Capitol Hill embodies lofty ideals and political struggles. ...
National Mall
Discover the design, drama, and meaning behind Washington’s iconic monuments and obscure landmarks.
Tour Overview Explore Washington’s most famous monuments and memorials from a fresh perspective. This guided walking tour of the National Mall delves beyond the landmarks to reveal how and why they were constructed. Using architecture and design as our lens, we dive into the powerful stories, historical ...
Cleveland Park
Discover Gothic grandeur, lush gardens, and architectural gems in DC’s historic streetcar suburb.
About Cleveland Park , dubbed "The Queen of the Washington Suburbs" in 1903, is one of DC’s most picturesque and architecturally eclectic neighborhoods. The neighborhood, once rolling farmland and a breezy summer escape for Washington’s elite, grew into a thriving streetcar suburb lined ...
16th Street & Adams Morgan
Discover the bold, bizarre, and beautiful built history of two of DC’s most eclectic neighborhoods.
Tour Overview Just two miles north of the White House, the neighborhoods of 16th Street and Adams Morgan present a striking contrast. 16th Street is a broad tree-lined boulevard of elegant mansions, stately embassies, leafy parks, and grand churches, where retail shops have been banned since 1905. Adams ...
U Street Corridor
Explore the architecture, history, and cultural legacy of DC's “Black Broadway."
Tour Overview Once known as Washington’s “Black Broadway,” U Street has long been the cultural and civic heart of the District’s Black community. The neighborhood, developed by and for a segregated population, fostered a flourishing, self-sustaining community rich in architecture, music, and ...
Anacostia
Uncover the unexpected side of DC, with historic homes, quirky landmarks, and vibrant stories.
Tour Overview Venture east of the Anacostia River into a neighborhood shaped by transformation and adaptation. Once home to the indigenous Nacotchtank and later developed as the Whites-only suburb of Uniontown, by the 1970s, Anacostia had grown into a center of Black culture, activism, and civic life. ...
Rock Creek Park
Discover the surprising stories that shaped America’s first urban National Park.
About Step into Rock Creek Park, where over 1,700 acres of forest—with hiking trails, bubbling waterways, and historic landmarks—wind through the heart of Washington, DC. Established in 1890, Rock Creek Park was the third National Park in the U.S. and the first within a major city. The land was set ...
Southwest
Explore Southwest's past, from colonial beginnings, to mid-century upheaval, and modern reinvention
Tour Overview Washington DC’s Southwest Waterfront is a neighborhood of striking contrasts, where centuries of history meet ambitious modern development. Originally purchased by the Carroll family in the 1770s in a failed real estate venture, Southwest hosts some of the city’s earliest architecture ...
Arlington National Cemetery
Explore Arlington, where design, landscape, and architecture tell the story of military heroes
Tour Overview Arlington National Cemetery is the nation’s most sacred resting place, where more than 400,000 servicemen and women are buried among rolling hills and sweeping views of Washington, DC. Every American war is represented here—from the Revolution to the present day. Two U.S. Presidents, ...
Tidal Basin: Beyond the Blossoms
Experience the bloom at DC's scenic memorials, where design shapes this iconic springtime spectacle.
Tour Overview Each spring, Washington DC’s iconic cherry trees transform the Tidal Basin into a breathtaking landscape of pink and white blossoms. This fleeting spectacle, when over 3,000 trees burst into bloom, has become one of the city’s most beloved traditions and a lasting symbol of international ...
Cleveland Park in Bloom
Visit DC’s local cherry blossoms on a stroll through Cleveland Park and National Cathedral grounds
Tour Overview Each spring, Cleveland Park comes alive with one of DC’s most spectacular cherry blossom displays, offering a serene alternative to the crowds at the Tidal Basin. Home to the largest concentration of cherry trees in the city, this historic streetcar suburb transforms into a pink-and-white ...
Design on the Water: Washington DC Architecture Cruise
Discover a new perspective on the design of the District! • 50 minutes • All ages
About our Tour Experience Washington, DC’s architectural icons and uncover the city’s complex and storied past—all while cruising the Potomac River from a truly unique vantage point. Departing from the Georgetown waterfront, this guided cruise is led by your expert guide from DC Design Tours and ...
Private Walking Tour
Book a private guide for a personal DC design tour with you, your family, or your group!
About Book your private DC design tour for an extra exclusive experience in Washington DC. Choose any of our walking tours to be conducted as a private tour, with just you, your family or group, and a guide. Tours are scheduled for 10am, 2pm, and 7pm, but please get in touch directly if you'd prefer ...
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Inside Georgetown: Rags to Riches Virtual Tour
The transformation of Washington's oldest neighborhood• Live Virtual Tour
Our Virtual Tours Join a live virtual tour to hear captivating stories, visit beautiful sights, and learn fascinating secrets you'd experience on tour, but from the comfort of your own home. Each presentation is a live and interactive experience with DC Design Tours founder, Carolyn Muraskin, exploring ...