The Recreation Pier at The Wharf (Rhododendrites/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Washington, D.C.'s Southwest Waterfront is a study in contrasts: The neighborhood retains some of the most historic architecture in the federal capital and boasts one of the largest private development projects in the city, the District Wharf. Laid out by the Carroll family in the 1770s and originally known as Carrollsburg, by the 1830s the neighborhood teemed with commercial activity, followed by a massive military operation during the Civil War. However, the waterfront slipped into decline after the war, cut off from the rest of Washington by the Washington Canal, railroad tracks, and eventually a six-lane highway.
Falling victim to the redevelopment movement of the mid-20th century, huge swaths of Southwest Washington were demolished in the name of urban renewal, with over 23,000 mostly Black and Jewish residents displaced. Today, a new wave of development is again changing the fabric of Southwest.
Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a tour of the historic neighborhood. Along the way, stop at the Municipal Fish Market—the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the country—plus the Thomas Law House, a "honeymoon house" built for Martha Washington's granddaughter, and St. Dominic Church, established in 1854. Other stops include Arena Stage, Southwest Library, and The Wharf. Southwest is home to numerous cooperative homes, including Tiber Island, Harbour Square, and River Park, which are discussed.
Know Before You Go
- Tour participants meet outside the main entrance to Arena Stage at 1101 6th St. SW. It concludes at The Wharf near 901 Wharf St. SW (Green Metro Line).
- Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water, and comfortable clothes are recommended.
- The tour involves 2 miles of walking. Each tour is 2 hours in length.
Additional Date Options for this Tour
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on Friday, May 2, 2025.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
