Private tour in Washington DC Carolyn M
5.0
(9) reviews
2 hours
30 minutes
1
2 hours
30 minutes
1
Carolyn M.
5.0
Guide rating
41
Reviews
Tours delivered
9 hrs
Avg. response time
Thank you for considering me as your guide in Washington, DC! I’m a former architect and lifelong admirer of all things brick and mortar. In 2015, I left the drafting desk to start DC Design Tours, trading blueprints for storytelling so I could share my passion for buildings instead of just drawing them. A graduate of the University of Maryland’s Architecture Program, I’ve called D.C. home since 2006 (though I originally hail from the “exotic” suburbs of New Jersey). When I’m not guiding, you might find me counting the 152 columns at the National Building Museum or exploring Rock Creek Park in search of Civil War remnants. Over the years, I’ve guided families, students, professionals, military groups, and international travelers, and I consider it an honor to serve as an ambassador of the District. My tours dive into the stories behind the architecture, urban planning, and design that have shaped our nation’s capital. From iconic landmarks to tucked-away gems, we’ll uncover conflicts, controversies, and the fascinating personalities who left their mark on Washington. I’m a full-time licensed Washington, D.C. tour guide and member of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides. I also serve as a certified guide at the Washington National Cathedral and the National Building Museum, and volunteer with the National Park Service. • Licensed Washington, D.C. Tour Guide • Member, Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, D.C. • Certified Washington National Cathedral Guide Please note: I am not a driver, but I’m happy to accompany you on public transit or a taxi.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Carolyn M.
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.
Carolyn was fun, engaging, detailed, and an enjoyable person to spend a few hours with. We had an amazing time with her. Our group included tweens, teens, & adults and she kept everyone’s interest the whole tour. We loved the stories of the people and of the buildings she told as we wandered the streets of Georgetown. She was happy to answer all of our questions. It was a great tour! Based on our experience with her I would 100% recommend any of her tours.
Our Georgetown tour with Carolyn was wonderful. Carolyn is a wealth of knowledge about the history of the town, it's architecture, and the historical people of the past 300 plus years. Highly recommend this tour for anyone who enjoys walking and learning a great deal of American history. Bob McDowell
Wondering if you should do a history tour or an architecture tour of Georgetown? Why not do both at the same time?! Our guide Sam showed us every TripAdvisor listed highlight of Georgetown, while showing us the history of the area, and teaching us about architecture. Recommended!
An excellent tour covering history, architecture and lots of fascinating information about who the people were that lived in many of the places we were seeing. This was the second tour we had with Carolyn and it was just as good as the first. She has a wealth of information and loves to share this with you. Once again I highly recommend this tour and am confident that any tour with her would be of an equally high standard.
We had an outstanding experience with Carolyn when we toured Old Georgetown. She did not miss a beat! From the time we met up with her she kept our attention with her excellent knowledge of history, architecture and anecdotes about everything we saw. We left with a great appreciation for what had happened in the past and how the neighborhood has changed over time. All 7 of us agreed that it was one of the best guided experiences we have had!
Carolyn was the best! Excellent in her knowledge, comfort in her presence, and inspiring in her presentation. She related well with the grandparents to the grandchildren in our family group. We hope to be lucky to get her again when we return to DC.
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.
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This tour is best done on foot, and covers about 2.5 miles of walking with some hills and steps.
1056 Thomas Jefferson Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, United States
We'll meet at the intersection of Thomas Jefferson Street NW and the C&O Canal. GPS Address: 1056 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC 20007 The tour ends at Georgetown Waterfront Park near 33rd Street and Water Street NW.
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2 hours
30 minutes
1
2 hours
30 minutes
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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