Listen to the tour introductionA short audio preview of this tour
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Washington DC Presidents' Neighborhood: Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour of the White House Area & Lafayette Square
Welcome to Historic America's self-guided GPS audio walking tour of the President's Neighborhood.
If you were looking for a DC walking tour map or a guided tour of DC, near the White House, then you're really going to enjoy this tour.
The UCPlaces app will take care of the navigation and tell you interesting stories along the route according to your location. All you need is your phone (with GPS / location services activated)!
We're glad you could join us!
I'm Aaron your guide (but I also respond to professional history nerd). This is the part of the tour where I fit in my shameless plug for our website (www.historicamerica.org) and invite you to use #historicamericatours on social media while traveling alongside us today.
This tour will explore not just the White House, but the fascinating buildings which surround it.
Top landmarks and attractions included in this English self-guided 52m walking tour in Washington, DC
For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant () to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place 1
You’ve Arrived! Recommended starting point
Distance: 0.39 mi · Attraction: Farragut Square
908 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA
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Welcome to Historic America's walking tour of the Presidents' Neighborhood. We're glad you can join us! I'm Aaron, your guide (but I also respond to professional history nerd). This is the part of the tour where I fit in my shameless plug for our website www.historicamerica.org and invite you to use #historicamericatours on social media while traveling alongside us today. Alright, on with the show. This tour will explore not just the White House, but the fascinating buildings which surround it. Whatever mode of transportation you use to get here, a good starting point is Farragut Square beside the intersection of 17th & I Streets NW. Once you arrive, it's a short walk to our first point of interest - the famous buildings of Pennsylvania Avenue. Locate the intersection of 17th & I Street NW. On the southeast corner of the intersection, note the metro station entrance. Walk south on 17th street, keeping the metro station on your left hand side. Two blocks down, you'll hit the intersection of 17th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue. Make a left on Pennsylvania and a short walk ahead, you'll notice a building with a long, green, street level awning. This is our first stop.
Distance: 0.01 mi · Attraction: Directions
700 Jackson Pl NW, Washington, DC 20506, USA
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Continue along 17th St. until you reach the intersection of 17th & Pennsylvania Avenue. Make a left on Pennsylvania and continue until (on your left side) you see the building with the green awning.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1 You’ve Arrived!
Place 2 The Intersection of Pennsylvania & 17th
Place 3 A Gallery, A Guest House, & A Grey Goliath
Place 4 Beautiful Statues & Stately Houses
Place 5 A Deadly Duel
Place 6 The Church of Presidents & A Hotel Residence
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms. Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay / Android / Android Auto].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (iOS users) and Android Auto connection (Android users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
Food and drinks
Physical tour guide.
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 0.5 to 1 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
What does this tour include?
This self-guided walking tour includes 16 stops, covering top attractions such as You’ve Arrived!, The Intersection of Pennsylvania & 17th, A Gallery, A Guest House, & A Grey Goliath, Beautiful Statues & Stately Houses, A Deadly Duel.
Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at You’ve Arrived! (Address: 908 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided walking tour designed to be completed on foot through walkable areas and city highlights.
Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided walking tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you.
Is this a walkable tour?
Yes, this tour is fully walkable and designed to follow a comfortable route through pedestrian-friendly areas.
Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There is one thing that you need - A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour) and comfortable walking shoes! But here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a mobile charger/battery. 2. Bring earphones for the best experience. 3. Bring a bottle of water and dress appropriately according to the weather forecast.
How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. Just follow the route (cross streets carefully using crosswalks) and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue the from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
What known landmarks and main sites does this tour have?
The top landmarks and main sites on this tour include 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, The Church of Presidents & A Hotel Residence, Old Hickory, The Marquis, Peacock Alley and Saving George Washington. In total, the tour has 16 points of interest along the route.
Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!
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) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
