Private tour in Washington DC Jamie K
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Jamie K.
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After 25 years as a National Park Service ranger, I retired to start my own tour service in 2026. I have been an educator and tour guide for three decades, including 15 years at the National Mall and memorials in DC. My career leading tours started at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and other New York area parks, before moving to DC. Every day managing the National Mall and Memorial Parks was an adventure, with many special events, new and renovated memorials, and interesting encounters. While stationed in DC, I also had the opportunity to manage ranger services at Rock Creek Park and Great Falls. I look forward to sharing my Washington, DC stories with you. While stationed at urban parks, I have also responded across the country to many wildfires, storms and events as a firefighter. While always physically and mentally challenging, these experiences have led me to beautiful places I never would have visited, and helped me understand and appreciate all regions of the country and their people. Years working in park management, with more time than I wanted spent in meetings and at a desk, led me back to my roots: leading park tours with groups of visitors. My mission is to provide personal tours of DC’s cultural landmarks and natural environment. I’ll bring DC to life with stories gathered from years managing the National Mall and memorials. After decades as a government employee with restrictions on what can be said and done, I look forward to sharing the unvarnished stories of the park and the nation’s history. I am licensed by Washington, D.C. as a tour guide, and have earned various National Park Service Interpretive Development Program certifications while also coaching other rangers through those courses. Some of my proudest professional accomplishments have been leading teams in interpretive projects, including winning the 2023 National Capital Region Excellence in Interpretation Award. Come join me for a walk or ride in the park!
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While strolling around the Tidal Basin you will see a variety of historic sites, great and small. You’ll visit memorials to Presidents Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. You'll also see the oldest structures in the park- a stone pagoda and lantern from Japan. Walk amidst the cherry trees and learn hidden stories with a retired ranger who managed the National Mall for 15 years. I will provide insights into the trees and the Cherry Blossom Festival, from its early days to today’s celebrations, and prepare you for the rest of your time in Washington, DC.
Meet at the Washington Monument Lodge: See how the National Mall grew to include the Tidal Basin. Stroll around the Tidal Basin: Admire the cherry trees, take photos, and have me snap pictures of your group. View the Jefferson Memorial: Learn about controversies related to Jefferson's life, the creation of the Memorial, and its use today. Discover the Japanese Pagoda: Consider the evolving relationship between Japan and the United States. Walk the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: Experience the changing Tidal Basin, including FDR's influences on the park. See the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: Consider MLK's role in the civil rights movement, and learn why the statue appears unfinished. End at the Japanese Lantern: Gaze at the ancient stone gift from Japan and contemplate the fleeting nature of the blossoms.
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Stroll around the Tidal Basin at a leisurely pace, with opportunities to stop and sit.
Washington Monument Lodge, 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Meet at the benches in front of the Washington Monument Lodge bookstore
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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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