The Georgetown waterfront was originally a bustling tobacco port, a gritty place with wharves and rowdy taverns. After the Potomac River silted up, however, the tobacco trade dwindled and Georgetown’s economy required a new engine to drive it. This came in the form of mills constructed along the waterfront. You’ll see what has become of them on this walk. Other sites include:
- the little houses resided in by the waterfront’s first European inhabitants
- the historic C & O Canal, a transportation route that stretches 185 miles to Cumberland, MD
- a panoramic view from the edge of the Potomac River to neighboring Virginia landmarks
- a tiny neighborhood once called “Brickyard Hill” that now boasts a luxury hotel constructed around a former trash incinerator
- former alley houses in an enclave known as Cherry Hill
If you like this Washington walking tour, you might also like: Georgetown and Capitol Riverfront.
