Top Washington DC Pop Culture

Discover the hidden history and local legends of Georgetown with a ghost tour. Today the upscale area is bustling with tourists, but it also has a darker past. Learn about supernatural occurrences and listen to true crime stories as you stroll past Victorian row houses, churches, and alleys of the city’s oldest neighborhood.

Step into one of history's most dramatic nights—tracing Lincoln's final hours through Civil War-era D.C. Unlike rushed, generic museum visits, this guided tour takes you inside Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House with reserved access, revealing hidden details and untold stories. You see the theatre booth where the President was shot, stand in the very room where Lincoln drew his last breath, and more. This 2-hour small-group tour offers an intimate look at these historic sites. Please note: Between May 28 and August 31, Ford's Theatre closes its interior to tour groups for repairs. During this summer window, we adapt the route to feature alternative historic sites that keep the narrative moving. Regardless of the season, your journey will always include the Petersen House, Baptist Alley, the Star Saloon, and the imposing exterior of Ford's Theatre.

Enjoy an offbeat experience—and discover a new side of the nation's capital—on an evening ghost tour of Washington DC. Follow your animated guide to the Dolley Madison House, Lafayette Square, and a range of other historical locations. At each stop, learn the spooky stories behind the city’s alleged hauntings and ghost sightings. The tour is also a great opportunity to see the nation’s capital illuminated at night.

Experience Washington DC from a different perspective on this evening coach tour. Visit multiple sites when the crowds are lower and the atmosphere is a little more relaxed. Discover the highlights of the National Mall, including the White House, the US Capitol, and Lincoln Memorial. Make stops along the way for an up-close look, and learn more from your guide's commentary. Additionally, upgrade to include admission tickets to DC museums (for later, independent sightseeing).

Step into Washington, D.C.’s darker side on this adults-only haunted pub crawl that blends chilling ghost stories with the city’s vibrant nightlife. Over two unforgettable hours, you’ll follow an expert storyteller through historic streets where presidents, political power players, and restless spirits still linger - pausing along the way to enjoy drinks at some of D.C.’s most iconic bars. This isn’t just a night out, it’s a journey through centuries of tragedy, mystery, and intrigue. From haunted landmarks just steps from the White House to eerie tales hidden behind grand facades, every stop reveals a new layer of the capital’s haunted past. Must be 21+ with a valid I.D.

Step into the dramatic side of Capitol Hill on a walking tour filled with political intrigue, scandal, and shocking moments from American history. From secret affairs and courtroom dramas to duels of honor and deadly rivalries, discover the stories Congress would rather forget. Along the way you’ll hear about spies in the Civil War, lawmakers attacked on the Senate floor, a journalist’s murder on the Capitol steps, and even a scandalous love story that shook Washington society. This tour reveals that behind the marble monuments and grand institutions of Capitol Hill lies a history packed with ambition, betrayal, and controversy. Join us to explore the scandals, secrets, and sensational stories that unfolded just steps from the U.S. Capitol.

See a side of Washington DC that most visitors miss—and learn about the capital’s spookiest corners, presidential tragedies, and eerie legends—on this small-group walking tour. Meet your guide in front of the Supreme Court Building, and set off after dark. You’ll explore many of DC’s top landmarks, from the US Capitol to the Library of Congress, and learn about the hauntings and paranormal activity that still linger today.

On the tour you'll explore stories of Civil War-era spirits, the Exorcist stairs, unexplained phenomena in historic buildings, legends surrounding Georgetown University, JFK, and tales of restless spirits said to inhabit the area, to name a few. This tour combines historical facts with local folklore, offering insights into Georgetown's past and the stories that continue to circulate among residents and visitors. We'll discuss the origins of these tales and their significance to the neighborhood's cultural heritage. Go at your own pace, anytime. The tour is guided by our walking tour app and is all outside, so feel free to take it at 3am or 3pm. The tour never expires and you can listen again later.,

Explore Georgetown’s darker history on a 90-minute journey through true stories of ghosts, vampires, witches, and the supernatural. Led by skilled historians who bring the past to life through theatrical storytelling, this Victorian-inspired tour uncovers the strange stories hidden throughout one of Washington’s oldest neighborhoods. Hear documented hauntings. Discover vampire sightings. Explore the story of the infamous “Witches of Georgetown.” Follow the history and legends to the Exorcist Steps, where we reveal the facts behind America’s most famous case of demonic possession. Presented by a locally owned ghost and history tour company with more than 40 years of experience bringing the past to life.

On the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre and vanished into the Washington night, launching one of the greatest manhunts in American history. Follow that story on the very streets where it happened; visit the boarding house where the conspiracy was planned, Baptist Alley where Booth's horse awaited, Ford's Theatre, and the Petersen House where Lincoln died the next morning. Led by an expert guide and inspired by Manhunt, this tour brings the events of April 1865 vividly to life with stories, hidden details, and insights most visitors miss. More than sightseeing, it's a chance to stand where history happened and experience one of America's most dramatic stories firsthand. See beyond the crowds and modern cityscape, revealing the hidden clues, overlooked locations, and human drama behind the assassination. Experience Lincoln's final hours in a way no book, museum, or documentary can match.

On this adults-only walking tour, discover how a neighborhood once nicknamed Murder Bay transformed into the nerve center of American power. From 19th-century brothels to Cold War espionage, political cover-ups to presidential indiscretions, this is the side of D.C. that rarely makes it into textbooks. You’ll explore the streets where corruption, vice, ambition, and power collided — and learn how these hidden stories helped shape the nation’s capital as we know it today.

Explore the many famous monuments and memorials of Washington, DC by moonlight on this narrated sightseeing tour. Hop aboard an open-air trolley and get an educational and entertaining rendition of the storied history of the nation’s capital. Take in views of an illuminated Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House, and more. Leave the brochure at home—your guide has way better stories.

Explore the eerie tales of Capitol Hill on a captivating ghost tour that uncovers the haunted history of one of the most iconic sites in Washington, D.C. This 90-minute adventure reveals stories of feuding lawmakers, spectral presidents, and the infamous Demon Cat that torments guards. Visit the Supreme Court Building, the Library of Congress, and learn about the ghosts surrounding the Lincoln Conspiracy trials. Perfect for history buffs and ghost enthusiasts alike, this nightly tour offers a unique perspective on the capital's secrets after dark. - Tour Guides dressed in Victorian Era Attire - Led by lantern light - Duration: 90 minutes, covering less than 1 mile - Tour times: Nightly at 9:00 PM, March to November - Starting location: Outside Good Stuff Eatery at 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE - Suitable for ages 7 and up; children under 6 are free

Enjoy Washington DC’s monuments and landmarks lit up after dark, and see side of the capital city many visitors miss, on this evening highlights tour. Have the opportunity to stop outside 10 top DC landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial, White House, and US Capitol. As you travel between attractions, learn details about the landmarks and memorials from your driver-guide. Then, at each stop, have time to take photos and explore on your own.

Visit the national capital’s historic haunts and spookiest pubs during this small-group, two-hour “boos and booze” ghost walk and pub crawl. Listen to an entertaining and informative history of the city’s paranormal sightings as you visit over five different bars and establishments. Highlights include the Round Robin Bar inside the Willard Hotel—said to be frequented by the ghost of President Grant—and a drink in 170-year-old Old Ebbitt Grill.

See a different side of Washington DC, and beat the daytime crowds, on a nighttime coach tour of the city's top sights. Travel in a standard vehicle, or upgrade for one with a glass roof. Along the way, gaze at floodlit memorials and monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Have time for photo stops, and learn more from your guide's narration en route.

Make the most of your evening in Washington D.C. by combining two after-dark activities in one. This ghost tour and pub crawl is led by a costumed guide who tells you tales of the city's past and it people, from presidents to ghosts, as they lead you through Lafayette Square. You'll stop at two to three haunted pub stops and have a drink at each (at your own expense).

Explore Capitol Hill on a fully guided 3-hour tour, featuring reserved entry to both the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress. Walk through the historic Rotunda and National Statuary Hall, marvel at the artifacts within the Library, and discover the hidden underground tunnels connecting these iconic landmarks. Led by an expert local historian, this immersive experience allows you to bypass long lines and delve into the rich history of America’s legislative heart. - Reserved entry tickets to the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress - Marvel at the Supreme Court and explore underground tunnels - Small group options for a more personalized experience - Duration: 3 hours, meeting at 1 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Take a spooky stroll through Washington DC on this guided walking ghost tour. Visit one of the most haunted buildings in the world—the United States Capitol Building—as well as the Supreme Court Building and the Library of Congress. Hear the stories of feuding ghosts of past lawmakers, haunted souls surrounding the Trial of the Lincoln Assassination Conspirators, the phantoms of past presidents and the curse that surrounds everything on Capitol Hill. It’s a fascinating, spine-tingling adventure.

Step into the shadows of Washington, DC on a gripping walking tour through historic Georgetown, where ivy-covered mansions hide Cold War secrets and restless spirits linger behind historic facades. This isn’t your typical ghost tour, it’s an immersive blend of real-life espionage, haunted legends, and secret history. Walk Georgetown’s storied streets to hear chilling tales of haunted homes, secret CIA safehouses, and infamous betrayals. Stand outside the former residence of “Wild Bill” Donovan, father of modern American intelligence. Discover how Robert Todd Lincoln’s life was eerily intertwined with three presidential assassinations, and explore DC’s oldest, most haunted building, the Old Stone House. See Martin’s Tavern where JFK proposed to Jackie, and revisit the dramatic mid-meal defection of a KGB officer. Uncover the occult lore of Halcyon House before ending at the iconic Exorcist Steps. Highlights: Ghostly legends, Cold War spies, curses & see the famous Exorcist Steps!

Experience some of the most popular attractions in Washington, DC like an insider on this full-day sightseeing tour. Begin with a tour of the United States Capitol Building; admission tickets are prebooked for a seamless visit. Then, see the city’s most famous landmarks and monuments aboard a comfortable coach, including the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and more. Then, end your tour with a visit to the National Archives Museum.

Downtown Washington DC is home to several areas of paranormal activity and spooky occurrences. Join this group ghost tour through the nation’s capital to hear anecdotes of fallen soldiers, political leaders, and former residents. Learn about the ghosts and ghouls that haunt the White House, Eisenhower Building, Washington Monument, and many more landmarks.

Spyher’s hosts are all former CIA officers with operational experience. Pending availailability, the tour is available privately in Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic.