Before Harlem There Was U Street – A Walking Tour

The Lincoln Theatre Join the Art Deco Society for a special walking tour along Washington’s Black Broadway. Entitled "Before Harlem There Was U Street" this 2-hour tour explores Duke Ellington’s home turf.

U Street was the commercial, social and artistic hub of the city's African American community from about 1900 through the 1950s. Stars like Cab Calloway and Dizzy Gillespie jammed here, rubbing elbows with Howard University intelligentsia. See a 1920s movie palace (the Lincoln Theatre, right), the first black YMCA, a nightclub in a cavern, and the nation's only memorial to African American Civil War soldiers.

The tour will take place rain or shine – so dress accordingly. In the event of significant snow or ice the tour will be rescheduled.

We’ll meet at 10:45 AM at the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, 1816 12th Street, NW, one and one-half blocks from the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro stop on the Green line. Use the 13th Street exit.

Walking Tour Tickets

Members: $15
Non-Members: $20

Space is limited, so advance reservations are required. We must receive all orders no later than February 25.

Join ADSW and pay the discounted member's price for your tickets. ADSW members enjoy many benefits. Membership costs $35 for singles or $50 for couples.

Order Tickets

Order your walking tour tickets online with your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express Card.

Order your walking tour tickets by mail. Please include your name, address, phone numbers, and email address with your order so we can confirm your seats. Make your check payable to ADSW. If paying with Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, include your credit card number, expiration date, and signature. Send your order to:

ADSW Walking Tour
Art Deco Society of Washington
c/o 1851 Monroe Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

Important Information

If the tour fills before we receive your order, we will place you on the waiting list. We will not charge your credit card or cash your check unless we have space on the bus for you.

Refund Policy: Because we must contact people on the waiting list to resell your seats, cancellations must be received by February 25. If you call (202) 298-1100 or send email to info@adsw.org by February 25, you can cancel your reservation for a full refund.

Resources

The Lincoln Theatre website provides listings of current events and a history of the theater.
Paul Williams's book, Greater U Street (Arcadia's Images of America series, 2002), combines photos, memoribilia, and an informative text to tell the story of the U Street neighborhood.
[ADSW offers this book in association with Amazon.com Books and receives a small commission on sales referred to them.]

For More Information

For more information, call ADSW at 202-298-1100 or contact ADSW by email.

Comments

Created February 4, 2004; Modified Tuesday, September 28, 2004.