Tour poster: Black Broadway: Resilience and Renewal on U Street
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Self-guided podcast audio tour

Washington

Black Broadway: Resilience and Renewal on U Street

Power, Protest & Civic SpacesHistory & Memory
Distance
1.4 km
Duration
75 min
Route
6 stops

Step onto Washington D.C.'s U Street corridor, once celebrated nationwide as 'Black Broadway.' Discover how segregation birthed a self-contained world of pioneering theaters, banks, and social hubs, and explore how MLK-era unrest, decades of neglect, and modern gentrification reshaped these historic blocks.

Ian MacLeod
Your guide Ian MacLeod Power, Protest & Civic Spaces
Audio sample

What awaits you on this Red Thread tour

Step onto Washington D.C.'s U Street corridor, once celebrated nationwide as 'Black Broadway.' Discover how segregation birthed a self-contained world of pioneering theaters, banks, and social hubs, and explore how MLK-era unrest, decades of neglect, and modern gentrification reshaped these historic blocks.

Your in-app experience

This is how the Red Thread app brings your tour to life.

Red Thread guides you through the city's stories that you won't find in any guidebook. Authentically and compellingly told by our experts and locals.

Home
01

Home

Get inspired and choose a story that fits your location and your mood.

Search for tours directly
02

Search for tours directly

Use the map to find tours in your city or at a specific address.

Redeem in the app
03

Redeem in the app

Redeem purchased tours or City Passes in the app using a voucher code or QR code.

Start well prepared
04

Start well prepared

Explore the route, stops, and many additional features for your experience.

Listen where it happened
05

Listen where it happened

Hear the stories where they happened.

Ask your guide
06

Ask your guide

Get extra context, deeper details, or useful tips nearby.

Collect discoveries
07

Collect discoveries

Build your travel passport and explore fascinating insights.

Itinerary

1

TOUR START

Howard Theatre

Opened in 1910, this grand venue predated Harlem's Apollo and served as the premier stage for Black entertainment during Jim Crow segregation.

Howard Theatre

Image by Farragutful on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.71 km • 11 min
2

STOP 2

True Reformer Building

Designed in 1903 by pioneer African American architect John A. Lankford, this structure represents the pinnacle of Black civic organizing and financial self-reliance.

0.09 km • 1 min
3

STOP 3

Ben's Chili Bowl

An iconic D.C. eatery founded in 1958 that famously remained open during the 1968 unrest, serving as a peaceful refuge for the community.

Ben's Chili Bowl

Image by Tim Sackton on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

0.02 km • 0 min
4

STOP 4

Lincoln Theatre

Opened in 1922, this grand theater and ballroom served as a premier cultural cathedral for Black moviegoers and legendary jazz performers.

0.19 km • 3 min
5

STOP 5

The Whitelaw Hotel

Constructed in 1919 by Black developer John Whitelaw Lewis, this hotel offered luxury lodging for Black travelers barred from white-only establishments.

The Whitelaw Hotel

Image by AgnosticPreachersKid on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

0.40 km • 6 min
6

END

Bohemian Caverns

Opened in 1926 as the Crystal Caverns, this subterranean jazz venue hosted legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane before closing in 2016.

Bohemian Caverns

Image by Kurt Kaiser on Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Where the tour takes place

Starting point and rough tour area – the exact route unfolds in the app.

Good to know

  • Ideal for History enthusiasts, jazz lovers, architecture fans, and curious urban explorers.
  • Best time Late afternoon or early evening
  • Comfortable Walking Shoes The tour spans about six blocks along U Street NW, so wear easy walking shoes.
  • Stop for a Snack Ben's Chili Bowl is an active restaurant, perfect for a mid-tour half-smoke.
  • Metro Access The tour starts near the Shaw-Howard U Metro station and ends near U Street Metro.
  • Your voucher You can redeem your voucher for two years from purchase. Once redeemed, you have 14 days of access and can enjoy the tour as often as you like during that time.

Your guide

Ian MacLeod
Audio sample
0:000:00

Ian MacLeod

  • Power, Protest & Civic Spaces
  • Scotland

Connoisseur of political movements. Traces the routes of protests and explains the power of public spaces.

Explore Washington at your own pace

Your podcast audio tour through Washington

  • Hear the stories of Washington right where they unfold
  • Explore 6 hand-picked stops across 1.4 km – at your own pace
  • Atmospheric storytelling, carefully researched and always ready in the app
  • Your voucher stays valid for two years; after redemption you have 14 days of access
Now only €5.99 incl. VAT

One-time purchase – no subscription, no ongoing commitments.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to the tour after buying?

You see your voucher code right after payment – and you also receive it at the email address you entered at checkout. Redeem that code in the Red Thread app; that's where the tour starts.

When does my access start?

Only when you redeem the code in the app, not at purchase. From redemption you have 14 days of access to the tour.

Do I need the Red Thread app?

Yes. The free Red Thread app turns your tour into a vivid experience: with audio, a map, and thoughtful prompts, it guides you from place to place in an engaging and entertaining way. It's available free for iOS and Android.