Earlier in April on one of the first gorgeous Saturdays, my
friend, Elle*, and I decided to do one of the Neighborhood
Heritage Tours. Cultural Tourism D.C.
created several different tours for most of the neighborhoods in D.C. They range from 2 hours to 90
minutes.
Elle and I opted to do the U-Street tour, and loved it. It was a great way to be outside on a beautiful day and learn about D.C. I was amazed that D.C. has a vibrant African American community as early as the late 1800s and that the community made great contributions to the Harlem Renaissance.
I also learned about Mary Foote Henderson,
who created Meridian Hill Park
and developed much of 16th Street. She also just sounds like a lady I would like to meet.
Not only did I learn about D.C.’s fascinating past, but I also learned a lot about D.C. today. For example, the Industrial Bank at the corner of U Street and 11th Street, is the longest operating bank owned by an African American. I also learned about the Thurgood Marshall Center and all that it does for the D.C. community.
Industrial Bank Thurgood Marshall Center
Elle and I just walked the tour and it took about an hour or
so. However, we easily could have
made it last longer by grabbing a drink at the Caverns, which was highlighted on
the tour, going into the exhibit at the Marshall Center or visiting the Civil War Museum (Sidenote: am I the
only one that did not know there was a Civil War Museum there?). The tour was great at taking you to
quieter, pretty streets in the U-Street Neighborhood, as well as, bustling
streets with great options to grab a coffee or a snack. I definitely plan on doing another one
of the tours.
Pro Tips:
1.
Take a picture of the map on the sign. If you go with friends, you will chit
chat and forget where you were supposed to go.
2.
Make someone be in charge of paying attention to
where you are meandering. My
friend and I may have gotten slightly lost once or twice because we were
conversing and not paying attention.
3.
Wear comfortable shoes. The walk was easy, but you are walking
and standing for an hour straight.
4.
Bring some water with you. I wish I had brought some, or bought
some along the way.
Cost: FREE
Time: At least an hour, could be an entire afternoon.
