Exhibition Program: Walking Tour of Washington’s Historic Hotels

Washington's historic downtown hotels are more than just places to stay. They represent a vital link to the city's past and impressive examples of adaptive reuse in architecture. Join this walking tour to explore the unique histories of these establishments, from D.C.'s early boarding houses to luxurious 19th-century palaces.  

About John DeFerarri  

John DeFerrari was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and has had a lifelong interest in his hometown’s history. Beyond penning the popular  Streets of Washington Substack, DeFerrari has written four books, including  Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions (2022), which he co-authored with D. Peter Sefton. DeFerrari is currently working on a fifth book chronicling the history of D.C. hotels.  

About Carolyn Crouch 

Carolyn Crouch founded Washington Walks in 1999 after a visit to London, England. Inspired by London Walks, she decided to tell the story of her home city through walking tours. Washington Walks specializes in deeply researched and contextualized tours that showcase D.C. neighborhoods and off-the-beaten path places. Crouch is a past member of the DC History Center board of trustees.   

About the Exhibition  

Capital Accommodations explores the layered histories of hotels, taverns, boarding houses and motor lodges in D.C. from the city’s founding to the modern era. Drawing from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, the exhibition presents photographs, ephemera and prints that illuminate the roles these accommodations have played in shaping the city. 

How to Participate

The exact tour meet-up location will be emailed to registered participants. Please wear comfortable shoes and plan to be walking for about two hours. The tour will continue in light rain, but in case of inclement weather, we will reschedule. Space is limited, so please register in advance.