Walking Tour: The Lost History of Frederick Douglass in Old Anacostia

Developed in the mid-19th century as one of the District’s first suburbs, Anacostia and its residents played a key role in shaping the city we know today. A walking tour led by historian and author John Muller traces its history and significance with a focus on the man that came to be known as the “Lion of Anacostia,” Fredrick Douglass, who lived in the neighborhood from 1877 until his death in 1895.

Blending historic research and contemporary neighborhood affairs and news, our guide will lead the group on a walk through time, exploring one of Washington City's most misunderstood and sacred communities. Stories of presidents, local personalities, famed resident Frederick Douglass, 19th-century architecture and neighborhood folklore will be woven throughout. Questions and photography are encouraged throughout the walking tour! 

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John Muller, author of (2012) and Mark Twain in Washington, D.C.: The Adventures of a Capital Correspondent (2013), has presented widely throughout the DC-Baltimore metropolitan area at venues including the Library of Congress, Enoch Pratt Library, DC Public Library, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and local universities. Muller is a frequent guest on Washington, D.C. radio stations and has been cited by the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Star Democrat, Salisbury Independent and other publications for his local history research and subject matter expertise. He has been featured on C-SPAN’s BookTV and C-SPAN’s American History TV, broadcast airwaves of NBC4 (Washington), WDVM (Hagerstown) and radio stations WPFW (DC), WAMU (DC), WYPR (Baltimore), WEAA (Baltimore), Delmarva Public Radio (Eastern Shore) and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. For the past decade Muller has contributed hundreds of articles to local and national print and online news sources, including the Washington Informer.

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This is a private walking tour of the Anacostia neighborhood conducted by an authorized local historian. 

Meet at the visitor’s center of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

1411 W Street SE.

Wear walking shoes, total travel is 1.5 miles.

Parts of the tour are not accessible for people with mobility issues. Tour is not ADA accessible.

Family & pet friendly.

Metro: Anacostia (Green Line) / 92 Bus, V2, B2

Host or Publisher Frederick Douglass in Washington, D.C.: The Lion of Anacostia