U Street
Long before U Street became known for nightlife, it was one of the most important centers of Black culture, business, and community life in the United States.
Explore the neighborhood once celebrated as “Black Broadway,” where theaters, clubs, churches, businesses, schools, and civic institutions flourished during an era of segregation. This was the Washington of Duke Ellington, jazz clubs, and elegant theaters—but also of entrepreneurs, educators, activists, artists, and generations of Washingtonians who built institutions of their own.
On this walking tour, we’ll explore:
- U Street’s remarkable African American heritage
- Historic architecture and community institutions
- Duke Ellington and the neighborhood that shaped him
- The impact of segregation and the struggle for civil rights
- The 1968 riots following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Preservation, redevelopment, and U Street today
Along the way, we’ll consider a larger question:
How does a neighborhood preserve its identity while the city around it changes?
This isn’t simply a tour of famous names and historic buildings. It’s the story of a community that created culture, opportunity, and beauty in a city where racial barriers constrained all three—and of the complicated legacy that remains on U Street today.
Possible Highlights
- Historic U Street corridor
- Black Broadway
- Howard Theatre
- African American Civil War Memorial
- Landmark churches and cultural institutions
- Duke Ellington’s neighborhood
- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Sites associated with the 1968 uprising
- U Street’s revitalization and continuing evolution
Private walking tour | Approximately 2–3 hours Tour led by Dion “13”.