Highlights
Dupont Circle Fountain: Decode the allegorical symbols of Sea, Stars, and Wind in this marble masterpiece.
The Brewing Legacy: Discover why DC was once called the "Sodom of Suds" at the Heurich House.
The Anderson Way: Step into the world of Larz and Isabel Anderson and the rigid protocols of the Society of the Cincinnati.
The Patterson Mansion: Hear the wild saga of Cissy Patterson, from a Russian kidnapping to hosting Charles Lindbergh.
The Sulgrave Club: The dramatic tale of a suicide attempt thwarted by a mother’s "tough love" ballroom marathon.
Things to Know
Tour runs Rain or Shine
Moderate amount of walking, dress for comfort
guests say
"Liam was a great guide! The tour was very informative about the history of several families that lives in the area and Liam was able to answer all questions, showing the quality of their research."
- A Tripadvisor Reviewer
About the Tour
An expert-led exploration of the 19th-century elite, diplomatic history, and the architectural legacy of Washington’s "Smart Set."
In 1871, it was an empty "Pacific Circle." By 1890, it was the most expensive real estate in America. This walking tour explores the rapid rise of Dupont Circle through the lens of the Gilded Age. We delve into the lives of the "Parvenus"—the self-made millionaires who used Washington's open-door social policy to buy the status their birthrights couldn't provide.
Your guide will lead you past the architectural marvels of Embassy Row, sharing the intricate rules of the "Social Season," where a single malapropism could end a reputation and an invitation to the White House was one of only three excuses to skip a dinner party.
