About

Washington Walks was inspired by a chance discovery.

Washington Walks founder Carolyn Crouch was pursuing her graduate degree in acting in Washington, D.C. when she took a trip to London.  Naturally, attending theater was on her itinerary (a Tom Stoppard play at the National Theatre, some Harold Pinter produced by students from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art).  It was a decidedly unflashy black and white brochure, however, impulsively selected from the assortment of four-color-shiny-stock offerings beckoning from the rack in the hotel lobby, that changed everything.  When unfolded, that no-color brochure revealed a schedule of dozens of different walking tours of London neighborhoods and historic places--the full-color spectrum of London on foot!  Taking one walking tour led to two, led to three . . . 

Carolyn returned from her British sojourn inspired.

She began to dream up walking tour itineraries of D.C. neighborhoods. In 1999, Washington Walks launched, becoming the first full-fledged company to offer walking tours of the nation’s capital and a way for visitors and locals alike to discover the history of the city's neighborhoods--the nation's capital as home town.  Crouch suggests, “After you've absorbed the majesty of the memorials on the National Mall, take a neighborhood walking tour to expand your D.C. experience.  In fact, it may be cheeky, but we like to say "if you haven't been on a Washington Walks tour, you haven't been to Washington!"


“We have an ongoing love affair with Washington D.C.’s history – its residents, architecture, and cultural significance – and like nothing better than sharing stories about those people and places.”


Washington Walks has grown to include more than a dozen fellow guides who are as passionate as Crouch about the District of Columbia. “We have an ongoing love affair with Washington D.C.’s history – its residents, architecture, and cultural significance – and like nothing better than sharing stories about those people and places,” explains Crouch.

Our Guides

Portrait of Brenda

Washington Walks Guide Brenda

BRENDA has lived in Washington, D.C., since 1982 when she helped launch USA Today newspaper as one of its founding editors. For decades, she told short, grabby, pertinent stories in print.

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Portrait of Brian

BRIAN is a 35-year resident of the Washington area and has been guiding for over 20 years. Brian's job is researching Washington's buildings and creating historical resources.

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Portrait of Carolyn

CAROLYN attributes her devotion to walking tours to perambulations through her new hometown when she arrived to earn an M.F.A. in Acting from The Catholic University of America. She is the founder of Washington Walks.

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Portrait of Cheryl

CHERYL grew up in the D.C. area and has seen Washington change a great deal over the years.  Having traveled nationally for her work and internationally for fun, she still thinks D.C. is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

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CHRISTINA attributes her love of walking tours to Sunday afternoon family strolls at historic spots in her native Ohio. She is a long-time resident of the D.C. area and had a career in electronic libraries.

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Portrait of David

DAVID traces his love of history to having grown up next to Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a recreated mid-19th century living history village on Long Island. He moved to the D.C. area in 2003 following a stint as a park ranger at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York City.

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Portrait of Martin

MARTIN has been enchanted by the city of Washington since arriving in 1980 to pursue a government career in economics. He found he enjoyed pounding the sidewalks of the city as much as crunching numbers and began leading special interest tours for friends and community groups.

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Portrait of Meg

MEG is a native of Queens, NY, where she previously worked as a Ranger on the High Line in New York City. She has lived in the D.C. area for over 7 years, moving here 3 separates times — she loves the city so much that each time she had to leave she had to come back!

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Portrait of Paul

PAUL is a journalist, history buff, actor, and former radio newscaster who has lived in the Washington area for 26 years and still discovers something new every week.

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