African American History Tour with Museum of African American History Ticket
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Washington DC, USA
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover many of Washington DC’s most significant African-American historical and cultural landmarks on this small-group, half-day driving tour. Meet your guide in the morning at the US Navy Memorial Plaza, hop aboard your vehicle, and set off: you’ll pass highlights ranging from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. At tour’s end, head to the National Museum of African American History and Culture to explore independently.
- Learn all about DC’s African-American history and culture from your guide
- This small-group tour offers a personalized way to explore the sights
- Discover many top DC landmarks and memorials, all in half a day
- Trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture included
What's Included
- Tickets to Museum of African American History and Culture
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- US Navy Memorial Plaza701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004, USA
The bus will stop in front of the Navy Memorial (7th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW) across from National Archives.
End point
- National Museum of African American History and Culture1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA
The tour will end at the Museum of African American History and Culture.
Start time.9:30 am
Itinerary
The National Council of Negro Women (Pass By)
1
U.S. Capitol
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
The White House
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Constitution Hall (Pass By)
3
Lincoln Memorial
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
LeDroit Park (Pass By)
6
African American Civil War Memorial Museum
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School (Pass By)
Howard Theatre (Pass By)
Howard University (Pass By)
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site (Pass By)
7
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
National Museum of African American History and Culture
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 21 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 426 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Kenny was very knowledgeable about the Black Experience and contributions in Washington, DC. He was very personable and courteous to tour attendees. Kenny went above and beyond by arranging a visit to the new African American Civil War Museum. Tying in a ticket to the NMAAHC was genius and an added bonus.
It has nothing to do with the Museum. It was an interesting tour of Dc for an hour n a half and way too expensive for that time. You made it sound like kit was connected to the museum which was untrue.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
I am very sorry that you felt misled. However, our advertisement clearly describes the experience as an African American Heritage Tour of Washington, D.C. It also identifies the historic locations included on the tour and the designated stops where guests may leave the vehicle.
The tour is not advertised as a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, nor do we state that our company is affiliated with the museum. The tour meets at the United States Navy Memorial, which further distinguishes it from a museum tour.
The complete city tour lasts approximately three hours and thirty minutes. Because you chose not to leave the vehicle at any of the scheduled stops, your portion of the tour was completed in approximately 90 minutes. The additional time is normally spent allowing guests to visit and experience the designated locations.
We make every effort to describe the tour accurately so that guests understand the experience before making a reservation. I regret that the tour did not meet your expectations, but the service provided was consistent with the description in our advertisement.
The tour revealed small known facts that contributed to how the district became the great place it. Is! So many untold truths about African Americans contributions.
Our tour and tour guide were phenomenal! He bent over backwards in order to make sure we enjoyed ourselves and learned many things about the African American journey in the DC region.
The tour is not a tour bus, not a lot of time to take pictures of things. Information was very interesting but could not record the information being provided.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We advertise our tours as a personalized experience conducted in a 14-passenger van. By limiting each tour to only 14 guests, we can provide personal attention and exceptional service.
Our tour contains carefully researched information that cannot simply be found anywhere. Every historical fact and story presented has been researched and developed through years of professional experience. The knowledge and presentation shared during the tour are an essential part of my business and livelihood.
For that reason, guests are not permitted to record the guide’s complete narration or videotape the entire tour for publication on YouTube, social media, or any other platform. If the full tour were made publicly available online, there would be little reason for others to purchase the experience.
Guests are welcome to take photographs and record video of the monuments, neighborhoods, historic sites, and scenery outside the van. However, recording the guide or the guide’s narration requires advance permission. As a matter of courtesy and respect, anyone wishing to record another person should always ask for that person’s consent first.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us protect the original research and personalized experience that make this tour special.
The bus was comfortable and the group was small, making it easy to engage with others during the tour. The tour guide was very personable and knowledgeable.
KB was very friendly and knowledgeable. Great tour! I learned a lot about my Black History! Nice experience!
The tour operator, Kenny, was very personable & knowledgable. Tour could be more irrelevant by adding more historic sites. I would have preferred to tour Fredrick Douglas’ home instead of Mary Mc cloud—Bethunes home. It says we do so in the itinerary but it was not the case.
Overall I was satisfied. Good job Kenny.
Mr. Kevin was magnificent! His knowledge about the African American experience in D.C. is untouchable. At the end of the tour I felt like I earned my doctorate degree in African American studies! I was fascinated by Fredrick Douglass’ s property. To conclude the tour at the African American Museum was like icing on a cake.
Kim D from Signal Hill, CA
Kenny was very knowledgeable and accommodating. I would recommend to others. All the major locations that I wanted to see were included.
Kenny was a very good tour guide. His knowledge of the sights was really informative. I’ll will book again
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you . Glad you had a good time.
Kenny was great and very accommodating. Very informative. Bus was very clean and air conditioning worked great!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank Leida. I hope you had a great time in DC
This tour was disappointing and did not provide the value we expected for the price. As a family of six, this was a considerable expense, and unfortunately, the experience fell well short of our expectations.
The driver seemed annoyed by the responsibility of both driving the bus and providing the historical narration. Instead of an engaging, educational tour, the commentary felt minimal, and much of the experience consisted of being dropped off at various locations to explore on your own. Most stops lasted only 15–20 minutes, which wasn't nearly enough time to meaningfully experience the sites or learn about their historical significance.
If you're interested in visiting African-American historical landmarks, I would recommend skipping this tour altogether. With a little research, you can create your own itinerary, spend as much time as you want at each location, and save a significant amount of money. Unless the tour adds knowledgeable guides, more meaningful historical storytelling, and adequate time at each stop, it's difficult to justify the cost.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I am sorry that the tour did not meet your expectations.
I would like to respectfully address a few of your concerns. Our tour is designed to last approximately three and a half to four hours, and it covers all four quadrants of Washington, D.C. Because of the distance between historic sites and the realities of city traffic, we must carefully balance travel time, narration, and time at each stop. If we were to spend 45 to 50 minutes at every location, the tour would become a much longer experience, likely closer to six hours.
Regarding the narration, I take great pride in the historical content I provide. After more than 30 years of giving African American history tours in Washington, D.C., I have worked hard to offer guests meaningful context, insight, and perspective. While I understand that every guest may have a different expectation, it is rare for someone to say that I am not knowledgeable. I would respectfully encourage you to read past reviews, including many from guests who praised the depth of knowledge and historical information provided, even when they may have had other criticisms.
You are correct that with some research, a person can create their own itinerary. However, what I strive to offer is not simply a list of locations, but the insight, historical connections, and lived experience that come from decades of guiding visitors through the city’s African American history.
I understand that I will not please everyone, but I will continue to do my very best, as I have done for more than 30 years, to share the powerful and important stories of African American history in Washington, D.C.
Thank you again for your feedback.
African Americans have been left out of the history books to some extent. Many of their contributions have not been recognized or acknowledged. Enjoyed seeing the house where Frederick Douglas lived.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you
Well the tour had good info and places it took you around the city. But ☝🏾 hopefully the man that conducts the tour has more than you. I scheduled this tour for me and my son as we visited DC from New Orleans. We had other tours and plans lined up to do. But I received a phone call from the tour conductor telling me that we were the only people for Wednesday and could we switch to Thursday. He then began to tell me that gas was to high and he wouldn't be making hardly any money with just 2 people on his tour that day. He said if not he would give a refund. Which meant we would miss out on the tour. So, I had to go through changes moving other things around. It was very frustrating to say the least.
Be careful when booking this tour. I booked it and received a Booking Receipt number and a confirmation number when the funds were withdrawn. I left my hotel at 8:00 AM, drove 45 minutes to go 15 miles in heavy stop and go traffic. (if you know anything about DC-VA morning rush hour traffic). The pickup point was supposed to be at the US Navy Memorial at 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW on Wednesday May 21, 2026 at 9:30 AM. I secured parking and paid $20 to park close to the pickup location. I arrived at the pickup location at 9:10AM. It started to drizzle rain and at 9:30 the transportation wasn't there. Then at 9:45AM they still were not there. I called the tour company that operated this tour. I was informed that they didn't have a tour scheduled for the 21st of May. The man that I spoke with (I won't mention his name) said he would call me back. Then I called Viator Customer Care and explained what the tour company told me. I was placed on hold while the Viator representative called the tour company. The tour company didn't answer the phone call. As my call to the Viator rep ended she said that I would probably get a refund, but she would need to speak with the tour company. I did receive a refund of the $175.00 I paid for the tour. I had to eat the $20.00 I paid for parking and I lost my time which is something you can never get back.
Response from Host, May 2026
I would like to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience the customer may have experienced. There was a mistake made on my part, and I take responsibility for that. However, I would also like to clarify several statements regarding what occurred.
On Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9:31 a.m., I received a call from the customer stating that he had an African American History Tour scheduled with KB Tours. At first, I informed him that I did not have any tours scheduled for that day. After gathering more information from the customer, I realized that a scheduling mistake had been made.
During that same 9:31 a.m. conversation, I informed the customer that he would receive a refund. I also asked him for his email address so I could send him tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Although I was only responsible for refunding the customer’s money, I provided the museum tickets because I felt it was the right thing to do.
At the time, I was already conducting a previously scheduled private tour that had been properly booked. Viator called me while I was conducting that tour, but I was unable to answer the phone at that moment. By 9:50 a.m., I emailed the museum tickets to the customer. As a result, he was able to visit and enjoy the museum from approximately 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. This gave him significantly more time at the museum than he would have had if he had taken the original tour.
There are a few additional details I would like to make clear. My obligation was to provide a refund, not to secure museum tickets. I did that as a courtesy and in good faith. I also explained to the customer that, had the booking been handled correctly on the schedule, I would not have accepted a tour for only two people. With diesel fuel costing nearly $6 per gallon, it would not have been practical or financially reasonable to operate that tour for only two guests.
In summary, the customer received tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which were not required as part of the refund process. He also received a $170 refund. In his final text message to me, he indicated that perhaps next time he would take the tour.
KB Tours has been in business since 1996. We are not perfect, but we always try our best to treat customers fairly, act responsibly, and correct mistakes when they occur.
Although it was chilly and raining, our guide was cheery and very knowledgeable. He made the experience a memorable one for myself and my spouse. We learned some new things about our people in the DC region which we will now share with our family. Great tour!! I’ve already shared with friends and family.
Kenny was energetic, polite , knowledgeable and insightful. Knows the areas history and inside story. 5 stars
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you
This was a great opportunity to see DC and learn about AA History... Specifically in DC. The host (Ken) was very accommodating which is necessary when you are new to a city.
It introduces you to areas of African American history and culture that are not normally featured when you visit D.C. from the southeast quadrant to the northwest quadrant.
This was a great tour to experience with my family! There is so much history in D.C. You don't want to miss this tour experience!
The tour was just ok. It felt as though we did a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. The tour guide stayed in the vehicle while we explored drop off sites. He spoke about the history briefly while driving, but did not guide us at the sites. When we arrived at the Lincoln memorial he asked everyone if they wanted to stop and get out and everyone said no, which left us just feeling that we should follow suit even though it was part of the tour. I felt a little pressure to say no as well, guess I should have spoken up. Even though the tour states the end will be at the African American museum and they don't take you back to the starting point, I believe better accommodations should be explored for return. I did enjoy the tour of Mary Mcleod Bethune home. Overall the tour was not the best, but some parts were interesting.
It was an amazing experience! It covered more than I expected. I recommend two days for the African American Museum. I found myself emotional, I loved the overall experience.
I showed up late and Kenny still made it one of the best tours I've ever taken. We covered an incredible amount of ground — the White House, St. Elizabeth's mental institution near the new Mystics arena, Frederick Douglass' 9-acre hilltop estate, Mary McLeod Bethune's home, the first African American theater in the US (Howard Theater) where legends like Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald performed. We wrapped up at the Lincoln and MLK Memorials — all before the African American Museum opened at noon.
This tour is deeply immersive and covers history you won't find in the standard education system. If you're visiting DC, carve out a full day for this experience. It's not just Black history — it's American history, told fully and honestly. Highly recommend Kenny and this tour.
Not a good tour for childten or teens. The driver drove through areas very fast, did not allow time to take pictures. Kept coughing when attempting to share history and did not speak clearly.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
thank you for your review
I had such an amazing time on today’s African American History Tour! Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared so many powerful historical facts about African American history and Washington, DC landmarks. You could really tell he loves what he does.
What made the tour even better was his personality—he was funny, engaging, and kept us interested the entire time. He also drove safely and made sure everyone felt comfortable while guiding us through such important history.
Overall, he was a great guy and an excellent tour guide. I learned a lot and truly enjoyed the experience.
10/10 – Highly recommended!
It's not a one experience, need multiple days to absorb everything. It's starts from Slavery to the present. They even have a HBCU addition
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hopefully you also enjoyed the tour of the city .lol
It is best to experience this tour in warmer weather! The visit to the African American Museum was especially moving and definitely worth another visit. Aside from the cold temps, the tour was perfect.
Very knowledgeable tour guide. Great and very informative. Would highly recommend this tour to anybody interest in Black history.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you very kindly
Kenny is a good tour guide and knowledgeable about African-American history in DC. Enjoyed the stops, especially Frederick Douglas House.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you
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$85.50
per personWas $90.00(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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