Georgetown

Georgetown is a historic neighborhood along the Potomac River in Washington DC with cobblestone streets, old brick row houses, and the C&O Canal running parallel to the river. The main commercial streets M Street and Wisconsin Avenue offer restaurants, shops, and galleries in 18th and 19th century buildings.

The neighborhood began in 1751 as an independent port town for tobacco trade, four decades before Washington DC became the capital. In the early 19th century, the settlement grew with the construction of the C&O Canal, which brought goods from inland areas to the harbor.

Georgetown University from 1789 shapes the area through its academic facilities and students found in nearby cafes and bookshops. Many residents use the riverside path along the Potomac for jogging or walking, while tourists explore the historic facades and small shops in the narrow lanes.

Visitors reach the neighborhood by bus or on foot from Metro stations at Foggy Bottom, Rosslyn, or Dupont Circle, each roughly a mile (1.6 km) away. Weekends bring larger crowds to the main streets, while weekdays are calmer and better for browsing the side lanes.

The Old Stone House from 1765 stands on M Street as the oldest unchanged private building in Washington DC and offers regular tours through its rooms. The garden behind the house displays plants from the colonial period and serves as a quiet retreat amid the busy shopping street.