* Starting February 2024, tour is offered the first Saturday of the month at 3pm.
This amazing walking tour will take you on a journey to an era in which U Street NW DC was the center of African American music and intellectualism. The sounds of jazz was everywhere, Langston Hughes and Jean Toomer were being established as the future writers of the day, and an effort to document the history of African Americans was underway. Take a journey through the Harlem Renaissance as it started in DC! Tour stops mid-way at the famous Ben's Chili Bowl, for optional refreshments and a bathroom break.
Posted By : L6416TOsusanw
Fun and interesting tour. Katie was so knowledgeable and shared many bits of history I did not know about the era and neighborhood. Perfectly timed pit stop at Ben’s Cili Bowl. Great way to see a DC neighborhood!
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Posted On : 2023-10-16 10:32:49 
Posted By : 992alishak
I am a college professor who has taken her students on walking tours in Harlem. I decided to try the Harlem Renaissance in DC tour for a change of pace, and I'm very glad that I did. I couldn't bring my class along as planned, but I took the tour anyway with my family. My 12-year old remained attentive if not engaged throughout the tour. Katie is very professional and knowledgeable about the period and the neighborhoods along the tour route. She dressed in 1920s attire and played jazz music during our walk. Instead of sticking to a prepared script she responded to questions and elaborated on different points based on our interests. Many historic sites in NYC related to the Harlem Renaissance have been repurposed or torn down. There are a significant number of sites still standing in DC, however. Overall, it was a great experience, and I highly recommend this tour for everyone. Curious tourists, history buffs, students, and scholars can all learn something long the way.
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Posted On : 2023-05-11 09:18:48
Posted By : bdwagon
This was an excellent walking tour of the Shaw neighborhood of DC, mapping out the connections of the community with the Harlem renaissance. Tour guide Katie was very knowledgeable and her commentary was well-researched and delivered with enthusiasm. Highly recommended!
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Posted On : 2023-05-05 08:59:45
Posted By : W6094DWandreac
This tour was phenomenal. Daarel was our guide. He was really engaging, provided a wealth of information and answered all of our questions. We learned so much and had a great time.
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Posted On : 2022-11-28 12:57:59
Posted By : 751alayahj
What a great tour! Our guide was very well versed in the information she spoke about. She has lovely energy and added her own personal touches by incorporating music and dressing for the part. It was a well organized tour that I recommend!
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Posted On : 2022-11-15 10:47:51
Posted By : Inspire484221
Great cultural experience lots of information I didn’t know would love to take the trip again in the future.
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Posted On : 2022-11-13 17:07:06
Posted By : 903nylah
This was such a cool walking tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had done plenty of research on the history of Black writers and musicians who were from or got their start in DC. She took us to some gems that I will certainly be going back to, and gave us some tips on where to find local jazz. I moved to DC recently and found this tour a great learning experience about the rich culture of African Americans in DC that I wouldn’t get from the big tourist attractions.
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Posted On : 2022-09-18 09:11:22
Posted By : renjon25
This is a great tour if you want to learn more about the significant contributions, history and the important legacy of Black people in DC during the Harlem Renaissance era. All the jazz greats, musicians, poets, writers, intellectuals, educators.
As a Black woman who attended Howard University and lived in the DC area for many years I learned so much on this tour as we walked through the various neighborhoods. I really enjoyed it.
Great job Katie!! I recommend this tour for anyone that loves history and culture.
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Posted On : 2022-07-03 07:52:32
Posted By : Amanda H
Katie brings history to life on this tour highlighting the vibrant musicians and figures who created a true community in the U street area. Learned a bunch about another ‘off the mall’ neighborhood- would highly recommend!
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Posted On : 2022-06-05 19:26:07
Posted By : west658
I checked my email before heading off to this tour, and finally had to call when the tour guide didn't show up. She said she had sent me a cancellation but I didn't find it in my email until that night along with other emails about where to show up and how did I like my tour.
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Posted On : 2022-05-08 23:00:24
