Georgetown: Grit to Grandeur Walking Tour

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. Cobblestone streets lined with colorful rowhouses, elegant churches, and grand mansions tell the story of centuries of change. Our tour explores Georgetown’s evolution from working-class waterfront to wealthy ward, tracing how architecture, commerce, and culture reshaped the neighborhood over centuries. Along the way, we’ll explore hidden alleys, appreciate impressive architectural landmarks, and discuss storied estates. This is Georgetown as you’ve never seen it—perfect for lovers of design, history, and intrigue.

Beginning near the (now) scenic Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, once nicknamed the “Grand Ol' Ditch,” we’ll discuss the gritty beginnings of Georgetown as a port city. We’ll stop at the unassuming Old Stone House, the oldest surviving building in DC, before leaving bustling M Street behind. As we wind through the neighborhood’s quiet residential streets, we’ll encounter a striking mix of Federal, Victorian, Second Empire, and Queen Anne architecture, alongside stately churches, tucked-away alleys, and remnants of the city's streetcar system. Highlights include the Newton D. Baker House, once home to Jacqueline Kennedy; Alexander Graham Bell’s Volta Bureau; the Gothic revival campus of Georgetown University, and a descent down the iconic Exorcist Steps, where film history meets urban folklore. The tour concludes along the Georgetown Waterfront, a once-industrial shoreline transformed into a vibrant public park, a fitting finale to the rags-to-riches transformation of Georgetown.