Scandals of Washington DC Walking Tour (Self-guided GPS Audio Tour) - Historic places and Stories of power and corruption
Places: 24 POIs
Distance: 1.23 mi
Duration: 1h:12m
GPS-guided narration through
Your Smartphone
Tour #384
About this English self-guided 1h:12m walking tour in Washington, DC
Who loves a good scandal? We all do!
In this tour we uncover secrets and scandals of power, greed, sex, corruption, and just plain stupidity right here in Washington DC.
We recommend this tour for ages 18 and older.
Let's begin at the corner of 13th Street and K Street Northwest.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
- Category
- Language
- Mode
- Region
- Country
- City
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.07mi
, Attraction : Beginning
1002-1000 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Start
You found me! Way to go.
Now let's head west, away from 13th Street. You need to be on the right hand side of K Street as you are heading west.
Now let's head west, away from 13th Street. You need to be on the right hand side of K Street as you are heading west.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.06mi
, Attraction : News Building
901-957 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
The Washington Post
We begin our journey into the truly jaded at The Washington Post, right here at 1301 K St NW. The Post has reported on so many scandals over the years...how do you pick just one? Well, we did, and we think it's a good one. Hopefully you'll agree. In the fall of 1989, A D.C.-based Republican lobbyist named Craig J. Spence was found dead from an overdose in a Boston Ritz-Carlton hotel room, in what the police said was most likely suicide. Two weeks earlier, he had hired a production company to record a seven-minute final message to his friends. One of the copies of the video he arranged to be mailed here to the Washington Post. The scandal that plagued Spence and most likely led to his suicide was in his own words, insignificant compared to other things he'd done. Uh...you're kidding? Because these accusations seem horrific enough. In a nutshell, Spence had allegedly brought underage boys and girls from foster homes into the White House for late-night tours and a prostitution ring. Later it was revealed that the underage sex scandal involved kidnapping, mind control, satanic rituals and sexual abuse. Wowsers. When asked who had given him access to the White House, Spence hinted that the tours were arranged by top level people, including a member of the Secret Service he had bribed with a Rolex, and Donald Gregg – the national security adviser to the Vice President (who at that time was George H. W. Bush). Donald Gregg denied any involvement. Hungry for more? Feel free to drop by our next stop for a bite at 14K Restaurant inside the Hamilton Hotel. They have pretty good happy hour deals from 4:00 – 7:00 weekday evenings. So when you are ready, just head west from the Washington Post building. Our next location is at the end of this block on your right.
Read More
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Start
Place 2
The Washington Post
Place 3
The Hamilton Hotel
Place 4
Commodore John Barry Statue
Place 5
Directions
Place 6
Booz Allen Hamilton Building
Place 7
McPherson Square
Place 8
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Place 9
Black Lives Matter Plaza
Place 10
St. John's Episcopal Church
Place 11
Lafayette Square
Place 12
Dolley Madison House
Place 13
The Little White House of President McKinley
Place 14
Freedman's Bank
Place 15
The White House
Place 16
Albert Gallatin Statue
Place 17
White House Gifts
Place 18
Old Ebbitt Grill
Place 19
Directions
Place 20
United States Treasury Department
Place 21
Alexander Hamilton Statue
Place 22
William Tecumseh Sherman Statue
Place 23
Directions
Place 24
White House Visitors Center
Click below for full access to this tour
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 1 to 1.5 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 24 stops, covering top attractions such as Start, The Washington Post, The Hamilton Hotel, Commodore John Barry Statue, Directions.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Start (Address: 1002-1000 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, 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.
+ 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!