Tour of Tours - Capitol Hill Restoration Society

420 10th St SE,Washington DC 20003

08 May, 2021

Description

Capitol Hill Annual House & Garden Tour - "Tour of Tours" Continuing a tradition of the Capitol Hill community that has been upheld for 64 years, Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) announces the annual House & Garden Tour - this year named the "Tour of Tours". We’re planning a veritable smorgasbord of fascinating, outdoor walking tours for Mother’s Day weekend, May 8th and 9th! We hope to have something of interest for every member of the Capitol Hill community. Like last year, the traditional in-home tours will be shifted to accommodate Covid-19 precautions and safety standards. This year all tours are outdoor walking tours with a limited number of people for each group. Masks are required. Tours will include: Hollywood on the Hill: Mike Canning has reviewed movies for the Hill Rag newspaper in DC for over 25 years, writing often on the depiction of Washington in American feature films. His reviewing led to a commission by the Friends of Southeast Library (F.O.S.E.L.) for a book focusing on DC movies, “Hollywood on the Potomac.” published several years ago. In this hour-long walking tour, Mike will lead a group of local cinephiles to a number of sites along East Capitol Street, where he will point out prominent location sites and offer both historical lore and cinematic anecdotes. Autographed copies of his book will be available for sale during the tour.The Resistance: Visit the Capitol Hill institutions and residences, and hear the stories of a diverse set of people and groups who have stood up for political, social, and cultural change in the area of civil, women's, and LGBTQ+ rights. Some names are well known, like Frederick Douglass and John Lewis. Others, including Mabel Vernon and Myrtilla Miner are less familiar. Take the “Resistance” tour to see sites of significance – to our city and our country. Robert Pohl, local professional tour guide and author, will lead this tour.Our Industrial Past: It’s increasingly difficult to picture, but Capitol Hill was once home to many industrial and commercial operations. Traces remain; you’ve doubtless walked by them and may have wondered about their origins. Learn about Capitol Hill’s industrial past including manufacturing, beer brewing, coal yards, and other now-vanished businesses. Plan on walking 1 mile in about 90 minutes.Parks: From Marion Park to Garfield Park and the neighborhood between them. From L’Enfant’s plans to the 21st century. When Pierre Charles L’Enfant developed his 1791 plan for the City of Washington he established a network of public spaces, squares, linked by broad avenues. These squares were designated for variety of public functions, including serving as social centers of the neighborhoods. Marion Park is one such square. The residential neighborhood around it, and leading toward Garfield Park, evolved over centuries into a rich tapestry of buildings, old and new. On this walking tour we will share stories of buildings, organizations and people in the area while allowing the youngest tour-goers to enjoy the parks. Whimsy of Capitol Hill: Have fun exploring the whimsy of Capitol Hill! For the young and young at heart. Tour-goers will be guided through streets and alleys near Lincoln Park, with a scavenger hunt list of fun-to-find items. These include murals, yard ornaments and water features - the special touches beloved by Capitol Hill neighbors. A meet-up location will be emailed to guests prior to the event. Children will be provided with encils and worksheets so they can "keep score". Plan on walking about 2 miles in a little over an hour. Community Evolution near Logan School: How many stories can you find in one of Capitol Hill’s square blocks? If it’s the square with Logan School at 3rd and F streets NE, the answer is many. In this tour, you’ll meet Rosina Tucker, an important civil rights activist you’ve probably never heard of. Spy the path of Reedy Creek, once a major impediment to building this neighborhood. Imagine the impact of building the magnificent Union Station just two blocks west of this site. And you’ll understand the perseverance it took to establish Logan School, which has expanded from 1892 to the present day. Notable People of Capitol Hill: From the early 19th-century to contemporary times, some of the most fascinating politicians, activists, artists, writers, and others have made Capitol Hill their home. Curious to know where Barack Obama snoozed while a senator from Illinois and William Cody aka Buffalo Bill hung his hat? Where that famous Washington power couple, James Carville and Mary Matalin, made their nest? Or Senator Gary Hart engaged in “monkey business”? Your guide will show you on the “Notable People” tour.We’re also organizing an “Artists at Home” gallery, inviting local artists to display their work on their porches or in a tented front yard over the weekend. Further details to come. To help maintain the safety of ourselves and others, the number of participants will be limited. Masks are required. All sales are non-refundable. If the event is rescheduled, all purchases will be honored for the next event date. If you cannot attend the rescheduled event, another person of your choosing may use your purchase. Any reschedule will be communicated by email.