Washington, D.C.: Walk through Georgetown’s Historic Layers

This self-guided audio walk explores historic Georgetown, one of Washington, D.C.’s oldest and most character-filled neighborhoods. It will appeal to travelers interested in early American history, elegant architecture, university traditions, hidden gardens, and a few surprising local legends. The route begins at the Old Stone House, a rare surviving pre-Revolutionary building from 1766, then follows the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Potomac waterfront at Washington Harbour. From there, the walk climbs into Georgetown’s older streets, passing the Exorcist Steps and the campus of Georgetown University, founded in 1789. Along the way, you will encounter places tied to Alexander Graham Bell at the Volta Bureau, grand estates such as Tudor Place and Dumbarton House, and the museum and gardens of Dumbarton Oaks. The tour continues through quieter corners including Oak Hill Cemetery and notable historic homes before ending back near the Old Stone House in the heart of Georgetown. On the way, the most memorable experiences include standing beside canal locks, looking out over the river, walking university grounds, discovering refined gardens behind historic walls, and feeling the contrast between Georgetown’s polished shopping streets and its deep, layered past.