African American Heritage Tour

If you’re planning a trip to Washington D.C., and are interested in learning about an overlooked but extremely important part of our nation’s history, Tour Washington DC is proud to present the African American Heritage Tour for groups of 25 or more. It’s the perfect way for your friends and family to learn about African-American history in our nation’s capital. Listen to informative and accurate tour guides and explore some of Washington’s most interesting sights. Participants will travel by bus and then get off at each stop for a half-hour to explore each site.

Learn about famous African-Americans such as Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became one of the most eloquent and famous speakers on abolition – really the Martin Luther King of his day. After telling his story to a group of abolitionists in New England, he was told that he would make an excellent anti-slavery speaker. He became a highly in demand lecturer traveling across the Europe spreading the abolitionist message.

In this unique 4 hour look at DC’s African-American heritage, participants will have the opportunity to visit sites such as Frederick Douglass’ house in Uniontown. Douglass was also the first African-American to move into the Uniontown (also called Anacostia) neighborhood.

You’ll also get the chance to learn about Mary McLeod Bethune, another Anacostia resident, vice-president of the NAACP and a striver for equal rights. Bethune was an instrumental part of the Roosevelt presidency and was one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s closest confidants. Their respect for one another was immense. The name "Anacostia" comes from the name of Native American settlement along the Anacostia River. Anacostia, always part of the District of Columbia, became a part of the city of Washington in 1878. More stops on the tour include the historic U Street neighborhood, where the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl is located.

Next, proceed to the African-American Civil War Memorial, and historic Howard University— which was founded in 1867 and was an immediately integrated. Howard is the only historic black college that has both a school of medicine and a school of law. In November 1866, at the close of the Civil War, members of the First Congregational Society of Washington decided to establish a theological seminary for the education of African-American clergymen. It became a place where both black and white students could be educated together. The university became a haven for middle-class African-Americans who wanted to give their children a better life. More stops include sites such as the White House, the Capitol Building, and finally the Lincoln Memorial, one of the most recognizable sites in all of Washington and where one of our nation’s greatest presidents is honored.

Tour Washington DC offers this chance to tour a different side of Washington D.C. upon request. The cost is $27. Since the African American Heritage Tour is upon request, Tour Washington DC is happy to help customize the tour so that participants can get the most out of their Washington D.C. experience. Tour Washington DC wants to help make your Washington trip a memorable one.