Walking Tour #1

Tour:  Free guided group walk  along the historic Tiber Creek, which was transformed into part of the Washington City Canal (1815-1855). 

Start Time:  We depart the Start Location at 1:00PM.  It is suggested that you arrive at the Start Location by 12:30pm so that you can explore the Lockkeeper's House prior to the walk.

Start Location:  Lockkeeper's House at the intersection of Constitution Ave NW & 17th St. NW, on the south side of Constitution Ave.  There is limited street parking in this area; participants are encouraged to use public transportation (e.g., Farragut West or Smithsonian Metro subway stations on the blue/orange/silver lines).

• The closest restrooms are located at the World War II Memorial on 17th St. NW just south of the Lockkeeper's House.

End Location:  Freedom Plaza.

Distance:  From the Start Location to the End Location, the tour is 3 miles.  Add an additional mile to reach our LocktoberfestDC Celebration.

Tour Leaders:  Hava Kantrowitz, Brad Robinson, Ellen Ternes

Route Highlights:  We meet at the Lockkeeper's House and hear stories about Tiber Creek, the waterway that once ran east-to-west roughly along today's National Mall and was converted to the Washington City Canal in the early 19th century. Come learn about its impact on D.C. and American history. See the canal wall stones discovered during construction of the National African American Museum. We reach the Summer House where a natural spring fed water into the Washington City Canal. We then turn up Pennsylvania Avenue to see the Washington City Canal memorialized at Freedom Plaza. From here, participants are encouraged to attend our LocktoberfestDC Celebration which runs 3:00PM-5:00PM.

Sign Up:  Click here to sign up. Sign up is required for all tours, and is limited to 40 participants.

Bring With You: Water bottle, sunscreen, and $$$ (for LocktoberfestDC Celebration). This walking tour is a mix of natural surface (the National Mall) and hard paved surfaces.