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East of the River: Architecture of Historic Anacostia

In-Person Program

Weekend Tour

Sunday, ​June 30, 2024 - ​8:00 a.m. ​to 10:00 a.m. ET​
Code: 1CWC20
Location:
Tour meets outside Anacostia Arts Center
1231 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC
Tickets
$45
Member
$55
Non-Member

Homes at 13th and W Sts., SE, in the Anacostia Historic District (CC0 1.0 DEED)

Please Note: This tour has a rescheduled date and time (originally June 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.).

The rolling hills east of the Anacostia River, with a commanding view of Washington D.C., have been settled for centuries. From the trading grounds of the Indigenous Nacotchtank to a whites-only suburb known as Uniontown to a predominantly Black community, Anacostia has seen dramatic change. The neighborhood has served as a home for abolitionist Frederick Douglass, part of the escape route for assassin John Wilkes Booth, protest grounds for World War I veterans, and a modern testament to the resilience of Washington’s Black community.

Join Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, for a look at the architecture of Anacostia, which encapsulates the area’s many identities. Highlights include Old Market House Square, built in 1913 and a centerpiece of the Anacostia Historic District; Rose’s Row; the 19 1/2-foot-tall Big Chair; the historic home known as Big Green; and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

Know Before You Go

  • Tour participants meet outside the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd., SE, and concludes near the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site at the intersection of 14th Street and W Street, SE.
  • Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water, and comfortable clothes are recommended.
  • The tour involves 1 mile of walking and 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, June 28, 2024.
  • 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: