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The White House
10m
Discover the White House through the remarkable story of African American history. Learn about the enslaved and free African Americans who contributed to the construction of the White House and the early development of Washington, DC. Your guide will trace important milestones from slavery and emancipation through the Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for equal rights. Hear about African American leaders who challenged presidents and influenced national policy, and how this historic residence eventually became home to Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States.
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Black Lives Matter Plaza
Pass by
As we approach the north side of the White House, we are entering an important site in the modern African American civil-rights story of Washington, D.C.
This section of 16th Street NW was known as Black Lives Matter Plaza. In June 2020, following the killing of George Floyd and nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice and police brutality, Washington, D.C. painted the words BLACK LIVES MATTER in enormous yellow letters on the street leading directly toward the White House.
The plaza became a nationally recognized site of protest, remembrance, and political expression.
In March 2025, the District removed the giant street lettering and began redesigning the area amid political pressure and a congressional proposal tied to federal transportation funding.
The physical memorial is gone today, but this location remains an important part of Washington’s modern African American and civil-rights history.
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U.S. Capitol
10m
Discover the U.S. Capitol through the lens of African American history. Learn about the contributions of enslaved African Americans to the construction of the Capitol and the early development of Washington, DC. Your guide will explain the Capitol’s connection to the abolition of slavery, the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, and landmark civil rights legislation. Hear how African American leaders fought for citizenship, voting rights, equality, and representation in the halls of Congress, making the Capitol an important setting in America’s continuing journey toward freedom and equal rights.
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National Museum of African American History and Culture
Pass by
Travelers will see the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, one of Washington, DC’s most distinctive museums. Your guide will introduce the museum’s remarkable architecture and explain its mission of documenting African American history, culture, achievements, and contributions to the American story. Learn about the journey from slavery and emancipation through the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day. This is an exterior sightseeing experience; museum admission and an interior visit are not included.
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Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
15m
Visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, one of the most inspiring landmarks in Washington, DC. Walk through the memorial with your guide and discover the life, leadership, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. See the impressive Stone of Hope and learn about Dr. King’s leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, his commitment to nonviolence and equality, and the historic 1963 March on Washington. Your guide will also explain the meaning of the memorial’s design and selected quotations representing Dr. King’s vision of justice, freedom, democracy, and hope.
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Lincoln Memorial
10m
Visit the Lincoln Memorial, one of the most important landmarks in America’s African American and Civil Rights history. Learn about President Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the struggle to end slavery. Discover why this memorial became a powerful stage for the fight for equality, including Marian Anderson’s historic 1939 concert and the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Your guide will connect these historic events to the continuing American journey toward freedom, justice, and equality.
