Georgetown Walking Tour

Entries on This Tour

1. Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School

The Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School is a private, Roman Catholic all-girls school located in Washington, DC’s Georgetown area. Built in 1799, it was founded by the Visitation Sisters, also known as the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, at the request of Archbishop Leonard Neale’s plea to found a school for young women. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March of 1991. Today, the school serves as a college prep school for girls.

2. Volta Bureau and the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Built in 1893, the Volta Bureau was a research center and library for individuals who were deaf and hard of hearing or researching deafness. Alexander Graham Bell established the Bureau using profits from record patents sold to the American Gramophone Company. The Bureau originally operated out of Bell's father's home across the street, but the growing demand for service led Bell to commission this neoclassical yellow brick and sandstone. Helen Keller attended the building's groundbreaking, and the Bureau soon had over 50,000 items in its library. The organization now operates as Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and still utilizes this building which is a National Historic Landmark.

3. Home of Yarrow Mamout (Circa 1800-1823)

In 1752, slave traders brought Yarrow Mamout or Muhammad Yaro (ca. 1736-1823) and his sister from West Africa to the United States. Yarrow was Muslim and could read and write in Arabic before his enslavement. Tobacco farmers, the Bealls of Maryland, held Yarrow in bondage for nearly 45 years before manumitting him. Yarrow purchased the property at this site in 1800, which he inhabited for the rest of his life. A brick-maker and financier, he was part of a growing free African community in Georgetown. Though the house at this site is not the one that he inhabited, he was buried here and a recent archaeological dig uncovered a number of artifacts possibly from his life.

4. Georgetown Neighborhood Library/Peabody Room

The Georgetown Neighborhood Library is a local branch of the DC Public Library system. The library dates its roots back to 1875 when George Peabody funded the first library in Georgetown. That library opened in 1875 on O Street opposite St John's church. This four-story building was constructed in 1935 in the Georgian Revival style. This library was remodeled in 1976 and 2007. Currently, in addition to being a local branch of DC Library, the library also has the Peabody Room on the third floor, a dedicated special collection collecting history about Georgetown.

5. Dumbarton Oaks

Dumbarton Oaks includes the historic Dumbarton Oaks House museum and its associated formal garden, a 27-acre wilderness area, and Harvard University's Dumbarton Oaks Research Library. Founded by Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection specializes in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies, and includes not only books, but also images, art, objects, and documents.

6. Tudor Place

Tudor Place is a Federal mansion overlooking the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., connected with important individuals and families who founded the nation and its capital city. Tudor Place was built in 1816 by Martha Parke Custis Peter, Martha Washington’s granddaughter, and Thomas Peter, a businessman from Georgetown. Dr. William Thornton, the first Architect of the United States Capitol, designed Tudor Place with architecture styles inspired by ancient Rome and contemporary France. Tudor Place stayed in the Peter family for six generations until the property was deeded to a foundation in 1983. It opened as a museum in 1988 and interprets the multiple historical eras. Tudor Place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was among the first properties designated as a National Historic Landmark.

7. Parrott Ropewalk and Montrose Park Historical Marker

This historical marker designates the location of Richard Parrott's ropewalk at the turn of the nineteenth century at his property, called Elderslie. Ropewalks were long covered pathways used in the manufacture of rope for ship rigging. The process required a long, straight track for the turning of strands of hemp, and so ropewalks were essential to the establishment of ports and maritime commerce. For this reason, the British army burned the ropewalk in 1813 when they occupied Washington during the War of 1812. After the property changed hands several times, its new owners renamed it Montrose. The path of the ropewalk became a drive on the estate. In 1911, the property became Montrose Park, and the ropewalk remains as a path. In 1933, the National Park Service assumed responsibility for the park.

8. Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel (Washington, D.C.)

The Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel is a historic chapel located in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, DC. Built in 1850 and designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., the chapel stands at the highest point in the cemetery and is the only example of Renwick’s Gothic Revival style of architecture known in Washington, DC. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in May of 1967, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in March of 1972. The chapel and the surrounding area is currently operated for tours, weddings, and other events.

9. Evermay

Also known as the Samuel Davidson House, Evermay is a historic home located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built for businessman Samuel Davidson in 1801, the building is particularly notable due to its design by Washington, DC’s first surveyor, Nicholas King. In April of 1973, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Evermay is owned by the founders of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals as a personal home.

10. Dumbarton House

Built in 1800, Dumbarton House is a Federal style mansion located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is the headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) and features a museum of colonial history. Its first occupant was Joseph Nourse, the first Register of the Treasury. The property was acquired by the NSCDA in 1928 and was given the name “Dumbarton House” after the original name of the land. The NSCDA hoped to illustrate domestic life in Georgetown during the early Federal period and opened the two main floors of the structure as a museum in 1932. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 28, 1991.

11. Mount Zion Cemetery Underground Railroad Shelter

People escaping slavery may have hidden in the brick vault of this primarily Black cemetery as they headed north on the Underground Railroad. This eight-by-eight-foot structure, built into the side of a hill, stored corpses when the ground was too frozen to dig graves. The seclusion of the area and nature of the structure allowed the formerly-enslaved people to travel unseen through Georgetown toward freedom.

12. Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Parsonage

This building was the birthplace of Bishop Leontine Turpeau Current Kelly (1920-2012), who in 1984 became the first African-American woman to serve as a bishop in the United Methodist Church. Bishop Kelly was the daughter of Rev. David D. Turpeau, Sr. and Ila Marshall Turpeau. The church built this parsonage in 1897.

13. John Stoddert Haw House

The John Stoddert Haw House is a historic home located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built in 1816 by John Stoddert Haw, the nephew of United States Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, the home would go on to pass between multiple owners over the years. On June 19th of 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the home also contributes to the Georgetown Historic District.

14. Isaac Owens House

The Isaac Owens House is a historic home in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Built in 1816, the house is a notable example of Federal-era architectural style, and has served as the home of several notable persons during its lifetime. On June 19th of 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Recently, the home underwent a period of restoration.

15. The Colonial and Female Seminary

Miss Lydia English's Female Seminary occupied this building in 1826. The had the support of powerful patrons such as US Presidents Martin van Buren, James Buchanan, and Andrew Johnson as well as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and General John C. Fremont. After the Union defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War, it commandeered the building for use as a military hospital. After the war, another school, the Georgetown Female Seminary, operated here under the direction of alumnae from Miss English's school. Later, the building was converted into apartments. It underwent historical restoration in 1953.

16. Newton D. Baker House

The Newton D. Baker House was built in 1794 by architect Thomas Beall. The house reflects a New England style of architecture. At five stories high, the home includes six bedrooms, three fire places, and a library. Newton D. Baker, for who the house is named, lived in the house from 1916 to 1920. The house was also occupied by Jackie Kennedy after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

17. Old Stone House (Washington D.C.)

Built in 1765, The Old Stone House in Washington, D.C. is the oldest building in the District of Columbia. It is also Washington’s last pre-revolutionary colonial building on its original foundation and it has remained unchanged over the years since it’s construction year. Local folks have preserved the house from demolition and remains untouched unlike most colonial homes in the area that were torn down or redeveloped into new buildings. In the 1950s, the house was converted into a public museum and is apart of the Georgetown Historic District.

18. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

This 184.5 mile canal took over 22 years to be built. Construction was started in 1828 by John Quincy Adams but the growing cost of labor, prevalence of disease, and instability in the area caused problems throughout the building process. Once operational, the canal offered a seven day trip from Cumberland to Georgetown. The Canal was open from 1850 until 1924. The area is now preserved by the National Park Service. Exhibits in the museum inform visitors about the construction of the Canal and the wildlife in the area.

19. Grace Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.)

Grace Episcopal Church is a historic church located in Washington, DC’s Georgetown neighborhood. Also known as the Mission Church for Canal Boatmen, the church is known for its Gothic Revival architecture. On May 6th of 1971, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places under the name of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church. The Grace Episcopal Church is still active today.

20. City Tavern

The City Tavern Club is a private social club in Washington, DC’s Georgetown area that is housed in a building of the same name, the City Tavern. Constructed in 1796 as an inn, the City Tavern building changed hands many times throughout its history until it became the home of the City Tavern Club after it was restored in 1962. In January of 1992, the City Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the City Tavern is still the hosting clubhouse of the City Tavern Club, and it continues to host some of the elite of Washingtonian high society.

21. Georgetown Market

The Georgetown Market is a historic market house in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. Built in 1865, the market was built into a pre-existing market structure dating back to 1795. On May 6th of 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The market underwent renovations in recent years, and it currently hosts a number of businesses.

22. Forrest-Marbury House

The Forrest-Marbury House is a historic home in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. Originally built in 1788, the Forrest-Marbury House went through several different phases of ownership in its lifetime, serving as residential, government, and commercial space. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July of 1973. Today, the building is home to Ukraine’s US Embassy.

23. Halcyon House

Halcyon House is a historic home located in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. Built in 1787 by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, the Halcyon House sports a Federal-era-styled architecture, and in its heyday, the home was a hotspot for social events in Washington, DC. On March 31st of 1971, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. After undergoing a restoration effort, the home is currently occupied as the headquarters of the non-profit S&R Foundation.

24. The Exorcist Steps

These stairs were featured in the film "The Exorcist," which was released in 1973. The film was written by William Peter Blatty and directed by William Friedkin. The film received widespread acclaim when it was released and was one of the most profitable horror movies ever made. The storyline follows Regan, a young girl who becomes possessed by a demon. Regan was played by Linda Blair. The stairs can be found in the latter part of the movie when the priest confronts the demon possessing Regan.

25. Healy Hall, Georgetown University

Constructed from 1877 to 1879, Healy Hall is the best-known academic building on the Georgetown campus and one of only a small number of campus landmarks that have been elevated to the status of a National Historic Landmark. The building is named in honor of university president Patrick Healy who was the president of the small but growing college at the time of this building's completion. Healy Hall originally served as a dormitory, library, and classroom space similar to many other colleges at this time. The building was designed by the same architects who designed the Library of Congress, and while the building now serves as a symbol of the university's continuity and stability, it is important to note that the construction of the building left the university with substantial debt.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Georgetown Walking Tour

Created by Genna Duplisea on July 31st 2020, 7:54:08 pm.

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Description

This tour begins at the Georgetown campus and walks through the rich history of the Georgetown neighborhood, first established in 1751. In its early decades, it was a prominent shipping port, and later industries like flour mills and factories arose. In the nineteenth century, it grew into a fashionable area of the capital region. After the Civil War, a prominent African-American community grew as freed men and woman settled there. In 1871, Georgetown became part of Washington, DC. After World War I, Georgetown declined in prosperity and living conditions, which the New Deal improved in the 1930s. This tour incorporates sites from a variety of time periods and facets of Georgetown's history.

Entries on This Tour

Georgetown Walking Tour

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