Gilded Age mansions, high-stakes diplomacy, and sordid scandals converge in Dupont Circle, once on the rural edge of the capital and later a playground for Washington’s wealthy. Today, its tree-lined streets showcase some of the city’s most striking architecture, from stately Neoclassical residences to eclectic Arts & Crafts homes.

On this two-hour walking tour, we’ll trace the evolution of Embassy Row and the surrounding Dupont neighborhood, uncovering the stories behind the grand façades. Meet the city’s social climbers, power brokers, and eccentric residents—from influential socialite Alice Roosevelt Longworth to Evalyn Walsh McLean and her infamous Hope Diamond. Here, architecture and ambition intertwine with the story of Washington’s dramatic turn-of-the-century transformation.