Historic Strolls is Under Construction!

Yes, tis true! Historic Strolls website is under construction at the end of a very toasty and buggy Summer. It shall be good as new as soon as possible.

In the meantime, catch us on Facebook at historicstrolls or at ghost story tour of washington

Or on Twitter @DolleyM

We've been doing private tours this Summer and our Civil War tour returns next month on September 19th. And of course, Ghost Story Tour of Washington is just a whisper away. Brrr! Soon it shall be cold. Hard to imagine now that we are roasting....

See you in September!

Ps don't miss us in character at the National Air and Space Museum on September 12th. It's going to be a fantastic event and we are sending some very interesting characters! In the mean time, enjoy this still from our Downton Abbey Parody. It features Brandon Mitchell as "Thomas" and Desiree Gibson as "O'brien"

The Next Civil War is in June!

       Ah, Spring! 

Well, so many things are springing up right now. Mostly tours. We are busy leading private Ghost Story Tours for groups and events this month. There will not be a May Civil War tour. But it shall return next month.

The next Civil War walking tour is June 20th. Reservations can be made through our second website at  www.historicstrolls.weebly.com

We've been making some hoop-skirted appearances and if you have need of Civil War historic interpreters, contact us at 301- 346-5303 or through the weebly site. Our first website is undergoing a major renovation this summer and shall be periodically under the weather!

To see Natalie and June appearing in Civil War regalia for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum "Mr. Lincoln's Air Force" event, click here."Mary Henry" and "Dorothea Dix"

Enjoy this lovely month of May and bring your parasol for the June tour! 

Natalie

Tis a Dickensian Workshop.....

        Well, the urchins are hard at work in the Dickensian workshop. They're getting ready for the Dickens Tour in December. This year it's December 20th and 21st at noon. This tour covers Charles Dickens visits to Washington City and features an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" on the tour. Tickets are on sale at www.historicstrolls.com and at historicstrollsweebly as well. For our military discount or student discount, please purchase from Mrs. Cratchit at the tour. Mrs. C will be at Cosi at 10th and E streets NW (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue is the proper address of Cosi but it's actually at 10th and E St NW) fifteen minutes prior to each tour to sell tickets. The tour is outdoors so dress warmly and we promise a lively experience! The  Cratchit Family Christmas Pudding recipe can be found here: Cratchit Family Pudding recipe

Photo by Pat Padua

This tour is accessible and military id is half price for id holders and their spouses. For more information write to mail at historicstrolls.com or call 301-346-5303.

This is from the first year of the Dickens tour in 2001

Doubting Abbey

Ghost Story Tour is On!

Ghost Story Tour is on for Friday October 11th! Meet the ghost under the awning at 858 Vermont Ave NW (McPherson Square Metro White House exit is closest) next to the Veteran's Administration building. Your ghostly guide will have umbrella and lantern!

And it's BoGo this weekend- buy one and get one free or just say your second person is a ghost and get in for $6.00!

Natalie

Shutdown Special on Ghost Story Tour!

    Tonight marks the return of Ghost Story Tour of Washington to Lafayette Square. The ghosts are ready and so are we! As always, military id gets you in for half price (and your kids under 16 for free). Our new student discount goes into effect tonight as well. Show your student id and get in for only $10. And, beginning tonight, October 4th, show your Government Id and get in for half price. To get your discount, simply purchase your ticket from the guide at the tour. She will be at the meeting spot at 7:45 before each tour.

Ghost Story Tour runs Fridays and Saturdays in October at 8:00pm. See www.historicstrolls.com for more details. Special tour on Halloween!

So many discounts, so many ghosts. Parking is always challenging in Downtown DC so we recommend Metro. The Ghost Story Tour begins at 858 Vermont Avenue NW, 20005, right outside the McPherson Square Metro "White House" exit.

Directions from the North, I-270
 Take I-270 South to 495 East
 Exit at Connecticut Ave. South (No. 33)
 Take Connecticut Ave. South approximately 7 miles
 Stay in center lane and continue under Dupont Circle, approximately 7 blocks to H Street
 Turn left at H Street
 Turn left at Vermont Avenue
 Tour meets at 858 Vermont (Vermont and I (eye) Streets)
Directions from New York, Baltimore and Delaware
 Take I-95 South toward Washington, D.C., to 495 West at Silver Spring, MD
 Exit at Connecticut Ave. South (No. 33)
 Take Connecticut Ave. South approximately 7 miles
 Stay in center lane and continue under Dupont Circle, approximately 7 blocks to H Street
 Turn left at H Street, to Vermont
 Turn left at Vermont
Directions from Northern Virginia
 Take Washington Exit onto George Washington Parkway
 Exit at 14th Street Bridge, Rt. 395 North
 Stay in left two lanes to exit onto Route 1, which will become 14th Street, and continue to I Street
 Turn left at I Street
 Turn left at Vermont Avenue
Directions from Richmond, VA
 Take I-95 North to 395 North, the 14th Street Bridge
 Exit onto 14th Street Bridge, Rt. 395 North
 Stay in left two lanes to exit onto Route 1, which will become 14th Street, and continue to I Street
 Turn left at I Street
 Turn left at Vermont Avenue

BRrrrrrrrrrr!

"Bloomers!" says Mrs Cratchit. Twas cold out there my dears, cold indeed. And Mrs. C forgot her over bloomers on the last tour. I had two pairs of woolies, one pair o' jeans, two shirts, two sweaters, one dress, two sweaters on top of that and one cape. And I am positive that I forgot to get a cast photo at the end. If anyone shot a nice pic of the cast on 12/24, do send it to me and if we use it, ye shall get a giftie from the Cratchits!
Each actor had many, many layers on this year. Our poor Desi and Nicolette each wore about 12 to 14 pounds of costumes during the shows. I was determined to keep these ladies toasty warm and they bore the burden with grace. But now a mountain of laundry awaits Mrs. C. Oh, ode to Joy. 'Tis the glamourous side of theatre! The wooly scarves are on the line as I type, the coats are joining them. And soon the slightly holey silk shirts shall make it a festive party out there. I scour thrifts throughout the tour season for silk shirts as they layer nicely. And if they have tiny holes, who can see it through the gleam of a beautifully nuanced performance?

We had lovely people on all the tours but my favorites have to be the wee ones who brave the chill (and Marley's ghost- brrrr!) to come and cheer on those Cratchits.

Now it's time to sip a tea, write a check to So Others Might Eat, thaw my fingers out (perhaps before I write that check?), and get ready for "The Expedition" which opens on January 7th. Walk off those Holiday calories as we ascend Capital Hill using the world's tiniest climbing rope. See the marvel of the City's oldest elevator, the secret connection to the Empire State Building, where the Star Spangled Banner was first sung in Washington City and much,much more.

And donate to charities my dear. Even a little can help a lot and you'll feel so good inside you may not need chocolate. Well, let's not get carried away, you may still need chocolate. Mrs. C does. But you will feel grand.