Historic Alleyways Guided Walking Tour of Washington DC
- Duration1h 30m
- Max Travelers10 people
- Free CancellationUp to 24 hrs
- CategoryCultural Tours, Excellent Quality
Overview
Fall 2026 Schedule: Tour is held the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 2pm.
Check out one of DC’s most unique features! Less than a mile away from the National Mall lies a hidden historic district showcasing one of DC’s mot interesting features.
The historic alleyways of DC served a distinct purpose as a city planning feature, but they also provided a hidden safe space where escaped enslaved people and the poor could find inexpensive housing and live their lives away from prying eyes. While city officials condemned life in the alleyways as dangerous, dirty and diseased, they were in fact a place where communities sustained each other and provided security.
Tour is 1.5 hours with a halfway stop at La Colombe Coffee.
What's included
Up to 2 hours of a unique walking tour experience by a knowledgeable guide.
What's Not included
Coffee and/or Tea
Itinerary
Blagden Alley is one of DC's most well-preserved historic alleyways. Once the subject of a study of DC alleyways, it is now the site of art galleries, hidden-away restaurants and coffee shops.
The tour makes a pit stop at this popular coffee spot.
Beginning in 2015, a series of works were commissioned by artists with a history in the Shaw neighborhood and in Blagden Alley u2014 They created a stunning display of new works painted directly on the garage doors of several buildings in Bladgen Alley.
Naylor Court is a former site of alleyway stables, and later old fashioned garages. It is a part of the Blagden Alley - Naylor Court Historic District.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.