Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 1
Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 2
Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 3
Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 4
Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 5
Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour - Image 6

Photo 1 / 6

Washington DC History, Crimes, Sex and Scandals Walking Tour

TourTruth score 8.0 out of 10

Very goodTop 18% in Washington DC

18 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • Washington DC
  • 1 hr 30 min
  • Updated November 1, 2026

Explore Washington, DC’s darker past on a guided walk through downtown stories of vice, espionage, political cover-ups, and power.

About this tour

Discover the hidden history of Washington, DC on a 90-minute guided walk through downtown. Once nicknamed Murder Bay, this neighborhood grew into the nerve center of American power, and its streets still hold stories of ambition, corruption, and scandal.

Follow a curated route past major downtown landmarks as your professional English-speaking guide recounts tales of 19th-century brothels, Cold War espionage, political cover-ups, and presidential indiscretions. This small-group experience offers a revealing look at the people and events that rarely appear in textbooks, connecting the city’s past to the capital you see today.

Meet outside the US Chamber Litigation Center, near the Farragut West and Farragut North Metro stations. Join this Washington, DC history walking tour for a fresh perspective on the stories behind the city’s corridors of power.

Highlights

  • Trace the transformation of Murder Bay into the center of American power
  • Hear stories of 19th-century brothels, Cold War espionage, and political cover-ups
  • Explore downtown landmarks with a professional guide

What's included

Included

  • 90-minute guided walking tour
  • Curated route featuring major downtown landmarks
  • Small-group experience
  • Professional English-speaking tour guide

Not included

  • Transportation to and from tour sites
  • Guide gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Meet outside the US Chamber Litigation Center at the corner of H Street NW and Connecticut Avenue NW; look for a green sign reading “Guides Get Lost: Meet Here!”
  • Farragut West and Farragut North Metro stations are nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a stroller
  • Service animals are allowed
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers or travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 18 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in Washington DC
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 8.0. Top 18% in Washington DC means it ranks in the top 18% of tours in Washington DC by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Washington DC

How many tours in Washington DC have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

More Walking Tours in Washington DC

from $39

on Viator

Check availability