• Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site - Blanche K. Bruce was the first African American to complete a full term as a Senator, achieving this milestone during the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. The tour begins at the site of his residence during his senatorial service.
• Blagden Alley Northwest - Blagden Alley is one of Washington, DC’s best-preserved historic alleyways. Once the focus of a study on DC alleyways, it now hosts art galleries, hidden restaurants, and coffee shops.
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters - The tour includes a stop at this well-loved coffee establishment.
• D.C. Alley Museum - Starting in 2015, artists with ties to the Shaw neighborhood and Blagden Alley were commissioned to create a remarkable collection of new artworks painted directly on the garage doors of several buildings in Blagden Alley.
• Naylor Court Northwest - Naylor Court, once home to alleyway stables and later vintage garages, is part of the Blagden Alley - Naylor Court Historic District.

• Up to 2 hours of a unique walking tour experience
• Knowledgeable guide

• Tea and coffee

2025 Schedule - Tours are available on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 2pm.

Discover one of Washington DC’s most distinctive features, located less than a mile from the National Mall in the historic Shaw neighborhood, close to the Convention Center.

The Alleyways of DC were originally designed as a city planning element, but they also offered a concealed refuge where escaped enslaved individuals and the impoverished could find affordable housing and live away from public scrutiny. Although city officials criticized the alleyways as hazardous, unsanitary, and disease-ridden, they were actually places where communities supported one another and provided safety.

The tour lasts 1.5 hours and includes a midway stop at La Colombe Coffee.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.