America250 Events & Historic Sites in Georgetown

Join Georgetown University’s Office of Community Engagement and the Georgetown Global Cities Initiative on May 21 from 5:30 – 7 pm for a panel discussion on the “Reflections and Dialogue on the Neighborhood’s Role in Shaping the Capital City,” which reflects on the impact of the Georgetown neighborhood on the evolution of DC. Panelists include Professor Adam Rothman (Professor, Department of History; American Studies), Mary Katherine Lanzillotta, FAIA (Chair, Old Georgetown Board), and Topher Mathews (Chair, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E; Author, The Georgetown Metropolitan). The discussion will be moderated by Uwe Brandes (Professor of the Practice, Urban & Regional Planning Program). A reception will follow.

Georgetown Heritage is presenting a three-part walking tour series exploring the neighborhood’s long history of civic engagement. Each walking tour will take place on the last Sunday of the month from May through July from 10 – 11:30 am, and will cover approximately 1.5 miles of walking distance.

Sunday, May 31: East Village
Sunday, June 28: M Street & Waterfront
Sunday, July 26: West Village

The Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain commissioned the design of a new mural by Spanish comics artist and illustrator Paco Roca. The mural highlights Spain’s contribution to the American Revolutionary War and to the origins of the United States – connecting this shared history with the diversity of current-day DC. Join the unveiling ceremony on Thursday, June 25 at 5 pm, featuring DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Ambassador of Spain to the United States, Ángeles Moreno Bau. The mural is presented in partnership with the Executive Office of the Mayor, MuralsDC, Georgetown Heritage, and Grace Episcopal Church.

The Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG) is hosting an event for Georgetown residents to encourage more civic engagement. Join them on Sunday, June 28 from 1 – 4 pm at Georgetown Waterfront Park and visit several booths featuring Georgetown’s nonprofits, community groups, cultural sites, places of worship, and schools. Learn more about each of their missions, initiatives, and ways to volunteer.

Attention Gen Z’ers: You’re invited to a lively, after-hours experience on Thursday, July 2 from 6:30 – 8 pm at Tudor Place that’s inspired by the colonial coffeehouses where ideas, gossip and revolution were brewed. Explore fascinating objects from the past in the feature exhibition: Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington and then espresso yourself and your ideas at the Dower House for coffeehouse-style mocktails and treats. Come get energized by history, community and a spirited night out. The event is tailored to those ages 18-30 but any age is welcome to join.

If you’re in town for the 4th of July, catch the fireworks from a truly unique vantage point: the Potomac. Paddle out on a guided tour for a front-row view of the spectacle over DC’s monuments. Single and double kayaks are available, and tours depart from 7:15 pm through 8 pm.

Take a bite into the birthday celebrations with Georgetown Cupcake’s limited-edition America’s 250th Birthday Dozen. The assortment is available June 29 – July 31, and includes apple pie, peanut butter fudge, and blueberry cheesecake cupcake varieties, among others – all topped with fondant decorations.

Make a weekend of it with a special two-night stay at the Rosewood Washington, DC. The “Getaway” special includes accommodation in a Premier Corner King room, daily breakfast, and access to the rooftop sun deck for a spectacular view of the fireworks and a bottle of premium champagne. If you really want to go all out, splurge for three nights in one of Rosewood’s private townhomes. The “Retreat” package includes daily breakfast, a private driver, the July 4th rooftop celebration, and a six-course dinner.

African Americans have lived, worked, and worshipped in Georgetown since its founding – making up 30% to 40% of the residential population at one time. Discriminatory public housing policies such as The Alley Dwelling Elimination Act and The Old Georgetown Act, as well as gentrification – before the latter had a name – largely pushed out much of the community from the 1930s to 1950s, but their history remains. Follow the African American Heritage Trail to see the institutions and homes of Herring Hill, a 15-block area of eastern-most Georgetown that was a home for families migrating to Washington after the Civil War. Other points of interest include the site of freed slave and Georgetown resident Yarrow Mamout’s home, the Mount Zion / Female Union Band Society Cemeteries, and the Rose Park tennis courts – dedicated to the star Peters sisters.

The oldest standing building in Washington was established in 1765 at 3051 M St NW, and is an example of vernacular architecture. It was built using locally available resources and renovated by the National Park Service in the 1950s. The exterior grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the kitchen area and store are open to visitors. (Upper floors are closed to the public at this time.)

Built in 1801, the Federal-style house features the former owners’ Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art collections. Former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun once lived there, and the United Nations charter was outlined there in 1944. The property contains 10-acres of trees, including Washington’s famed cherry blossoms, as well as flowers and ornamental garden fixtures.

Georgetown is an origination point for the historic C&O Canal, a National Park which runs 184.5 miles into Cumberland, MD. When ground broke in 1828, the Canal brought to life George Washington’s vision to open up the country to the west – connecting the port town to goods and materials that supported a local industrial economy unique to the region. Today, the Canal Towpath is a popular spot for runners and cyclists, and provides an urban oasis unlike anything else in the city. New in 2022, Canal boat tours returned for the first time in more than a decade – part of a multi-year revitalization of the first mile of the Canal, led by Georgetown Heritage and the National Park Service, with support from the Georgetown BID and the District of Columbia Government. Additional Canal restoration work is now underway, but we look forward to the return of the boat tours in 2027. In the meantime, take a historic C&O Canal walking tour this summer.

Arguably our most famous residents, John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy spent their happiest and most tragic times in Georgetown. Retrace the memories of one of America’s most iconic couples – from the ‘proposal booth’ where they got engaged, to their first home as a couple.

A Georgetown landmark for nearly two centuries, the Federal period house showcases household furnishings, art, and décor from the early years of the republic. The house is currently under renovation but will reopen to the public in Fall 2026.

This 1816 National Historic Landmark estate, built by Martha Washington’s granddaughter Martha Custis Peter, is home to the extensive Mt. Vernon collection and historic 5.5 acre garden, allowing visitors to explore 180 years of American history.

The Peabody Room is a special collection of Georgetown neighborhood history,. In many ways a virtual tour of Georgetown, it includes photographs, maps, neighborhood microfilmed newspapers, paintings, engravings and artifacts that document various aspects of Georgetown life – plus a house history file for nearly every home in Georgetown.

Georgetown is home to world-renowned Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the country that dates back to 1789. It is also the oldest university in DC, and the nation’s first federally chartered university.