Off The Mall Tours

12/10/2024

I had a wonderful "Tour exchange" today with real estate historian extraordinaire Joe Himali! He shared with me the stories behind some of Kalorama's historic buildings, including the Vichy France embassy where a British spy successfully evaded capture wearing nothing but heels and pearls, and the coop in which Betty Frieden lived (now The Wyoming). In exchange I took him on the History of Black Georgetown tour, ending at the Mt Zion Female Union Band Cemetery, where we had a chance run-in with Exec Director Lisa Fager. What a great day full of history nerddom! BTW, I'm offering the History of Black Georgetown tour to the public this Saturday 12/14 at 2pm (tickets available through link in bio). Thanks Joe for an excellent tour chock full of great info, and to Lisa for giving us both an impromptu tour of the Cemetery!

12/09/2024

Congratulations to and in working to make this Proclamation by , declaring December 10th Equal Rights Amendment Day. has just over 40 days to tell the Archivist of the United States to put the ERA into the Constitution, making it the basis for the protection of equal rights in regards to gender. You can do your part by texting and calling the President's office as well, telling him to make the ERA part of the highest law in the land. Also, our friends from are returning to DC to keep bringing attention to this incredibly important issue. Find out more about the ERA here: https://www.equalrightsamendment.org/

12/09/2024

We're getting ready to close out 2024 here at OTM headquarters, but before we do, join us on one of our amazing and unique walking tours! Here is the lineup:

12/13 ar 7pm - Madams of DC covers the fascinating history of s*x workers in Civil War Washington. These women were property owners, business owners, wheelers, dealers, and more! Tour begins in front of the Willard Intercontinental and ends in front of the National Museum of the American Indian

12/14 at 2pm - History of Black Georgetown delves into the stories of notable African Americans who thrived in DCs oldest neighborhood before and after the Emancipation Proclamation, but also explores the forces that promoted many of them to move out during the 20th Century. Tour begins at 3206 O Street NW and ends at the
Mt. Zion/Female Union Band Cemetery.

12/15 at 2pm - District of Punk takes you through Gallery Place and relates how DC HarDCore thrived in the 1980s, thanks to venues like d.c. space and the original .

12/15 at 5pm - Enjoy our signature festive Historic Hotel Holiday Walk in which we'll visit four beautiful downtown hotels dressed in their holiday best, including the the
and end at the for their nightly choral performance.

12/25 at 10am- We end the year with another annual favorite just in time for Hannukah! The History of Jewish Washington, led by guest guide , takes you through Chinatown and Judiciary Square exploring the stories of its historic Jewish population and synagogues.

Also, we offer virtual gift certificates for the history nerd in your life that values the gift of a great experience! All tickets and gift cards can be purchased at www.otmdc.com or through links in bio.

There's something for everyone and we look forward to ending the year with you. Happy Holidays everyone!!

12/09/2024

Last District of Jazz tour of the year yesterday with three jazz enthusiasts willing to brave the cold! Also, check out the wonderful holiday display at Lee's Flower Shop, one of only three black-owned businesses that pre-date 1968 on the U Street Corridor. A big THANK YOU to everyone who came on this tour with me this year to learn about DC's amazing jazz history. I'm thinking of changing the name back to Harlem Renaissance in DC for 2025. What do you think? Stay tuned for next year's schedule.

11/29/2024

The first walking tour of December is this Sunday at 2pm! Join us for an exploration of the history of DC's unique alleyway system and the people who used to live within it. This walking tour focuses Blagden Alley-Naylor Court Historic District, a uniquely well preserved example of residential and commercial alleys. Tickets still available at www.otmdc.com or through link in bio. $30 for adults, $20 for kids.

11/26/2024

The holiday season is upon us, and Off the Mall Tours is offering two special featured tours as well as a condensed version of our usual monthly schedule before we go on a short winter break. First, we're bringing back the Historic Hotel Holiday Walk on December 15th at 5pm. when we will visit several verable historic bastions ot hospitality in their holiday best. Then OTM guest guide will be guiding the History of Jewish Washington on December 25th at 10am. A great activity to do since everything is pretty much closed otherwise. Check out our other regular tours, as these will be the last chance of the year! Finally, we also have GIFT CARDS! ! The perfect present for the history nerd in your life. All tickets and cards can be purchased through link in bio or on www.otmdc.com. Happy Holidays!

11/21/2024

Hey everyone, the District of Punk tour was featured in this awesome piece about Punk in Washington by Will Lennon in the Washington City Paper. How exciting to have a tour highlighted in this way. The tour is coming up this Saturday November 23rd at 2pm, and tickets are still available through www.otmdc.com! https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/753693/native-cinema-showcase-d-c-s-punk-history-and-more-city-lights-for-nov-21-27/

Watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles and the Native Cinema Showcase, take a walking tour, and look at art from Catherine Howe and Misha Ilin.

11/11/2024

In honor of Veterans Day, I want to thank those who have fought on behalf of this country for your dedication, and thank your families for sacrificing time with you so you can serve your nation.

We discussed many veterans on the Echoes of Navy Yard tour today, from the designer of the city Pierre L'Enfant, who fought in the Revolutionary War, to the WAVES (Women Accepted Voluntary Emergency Services) Corps who helped build munitions during WWII, to the Marquis de Lafayette, who visited the Yard in 1824 and more. I was also treated to dinner afterward by a few of my guests, one of which was himself a Navy Veteran, author Bill Lammers. He has recorded his experiences through a series of letters written to his grandchildren, which is the title of the book "Letters to my Grandchildren." Check it out!

Earlier this weekend, I was hosting another group of Au Pairs for for a class on Women of Cold War Washingtin. On Saturday, we visited the war memorials and talked about several women who led movements that would change the way we look at how women contribute to society. I always take these groups by the one war memorial on the Mall dedicated to women, that of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, dedicated to the 265,000 women who served as nurses, drivers, logistical support, and more, during the war. Erected more than 10 years after the Vietnam Wall, it's a poignant reminder that our Veterans are not only those on the front lines.

11/07/2024

At OTM we are still processing the results of the election, but in the meantime we are continuing with our mission of providing tours that celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of Washington, DC. Here is what is coming up. For Veterans Day, we have our Echoes of Navy Yard tour, in which we explore the history of DC's oldest neighborhood, from its era of being the largest employer in the District, the home of one of DC's earliest black chroniclers, to hosting thriving LGBTQ gathering places, and of course telling the stories of notable Veterans. Throughout the month we have our usual amazing lineup of tours, descriptions of which can be found at the website, through link in bio. Then we are offering a special promotion for Thanksgiving, with 33% off of our usual private tour rate. All tickets can be purchased at links in bio. We may be struggling with gratitude right now, but we will get through this together.

11/05/2024

It's voting day! I already voted early as soon as the polls opened in the District of Columbia, which was last Monday. Get out there and exercise your right to one of the most important actions you can take in this country. Vote like your friends' and family's lives depend on it, because for some of them, it very well may. Vote for the candidate that is for progress, not regress. I'm voting in memory of the many women and people in this country who weren't always able to do so. VOTE!!

10/30/2024

Greetings All! If you missed my The Oak Hill Cemetery of Washington, DC tour last weekend, I'm doing a FREE virtual version with Howard Country Library on Halloween at 12:30! What a great way to spend your lunch break. ;) See information at the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/aXw1ZA4fs7wLktbo/

10/30/2024

TONIGHT!! We still have tickets available for the Q***r Black Broadway tour celebrating LGBTQ History Month, which we're offering in partnership with . Tour begins in front of Howard Theater, ends at , and explores the LGBTQ history of the famed Black Broadway of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Underground drag shows, out and closeted writers who MADE the Harlem Renaissance happen, and one big crime boss, this tour brings a whole new perspective to this vibrant neighborhood. A portion of proceeds goes to benefit the mission of Rainbiw History Project, which is the collect, maintain, and promote the LGBTQ history of the DMV area. Tickets available at link in bio or through www.otmdc.com. ***rhistoryishistory ***rhistoryisblackhistory #

10/30/2024

Scenes from the 37th High Heel Race in tonight! Always a fun event with some amazing costumes. Also, I got to check in on the crew putting out the word about their amazing work and next year. #

10/27/2024

Thanks to all of my fabulous guests who came on the Lesser-Known Notables of tour on Saturday! We could not have asked for better weather conditions. We all got into the Halloween spirit. And thank you to Oak Hill Cemetery for hosting us.

Off the Mall's next featured tour, and the last tour of the month, is the return of the Q***r Black Broadway tour on October 30th at 6:30 pm, in the neighborhood. This tour is given in partnership with , starts at the Howard Theater and ends at , DC's only black and q***r-owned bar in DC. We are ending LGBTQ History Month with a bang! Tickets available at link in bio or at www.otmdc.com! # ***rblackhistory

10/23/2024

A week from today, OTM and is offering again the Q***r Black Broadway walking tour! We'll walk through the U Street Corridor, exploring how a multitude of LGBTQ writers, performers, activists and more made an impact on the historic Black Broadway. The tour begins at the Howard Theater and ends at , DC's only q***r black owned bar! The tour is 1.5 hours, and tickets are $30 per person. A portion of proceeds going to benefit the mission of The Rainbow History Project, which is to collect, preserve and promote the LGBTQ history in Washington DC. Let's end LGBTQ History Month on a high note.




***rblackhistory ***rhistoryisblackhistory ***rblackbroadway

10/15/2024

Check out what OTM has on tap for the third weekend in October! We start with Madams of DC, the story of the s*x work industry in Civil War Washington, on Friday 10/18 at 7pm. Then, we start Saturday the 19th with The Mall Beyond the Museums, a different take on Mall tour. Then we end with the History of Black Georgetown, where we explore important places and people who contributed to Georgetown's diverse past. Tickets still available at www.otmdc.com, or through link in bio.