WOMEN’S HISTORY TOURS

Washington, DC

A Tour Of Her Own was founded in 2018 as the first tourism company in Washington, D.C. to focus exclusively on women’s history. A Tour Of Her Own (TOHO) specializes in women’s history tours, book talks, and virtual experiences.

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“Voted “Best Tour for Out-Of-Towners” by Washington City Paper 2023

Awarded “Best DC Book” at the DC State Fair 2022

RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN TOURISM

“Rarely in our industry do we come upon innovative and inspired ideas. But A Tour of Her Own in Washington, DC seems to be doing just that.” - Indie Travel

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PRIVATE GROUP TOURS

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Experience the nation’s capital through a feminist lens! From corporate trainings to a girl’s day out, a private tour is an opportunity to connect with others. Our licensed professional tour guides are public historians who provide insight about American History and life in DC with a focus on women’s stories. Commission a Premier TOHO Tour, book one of our Signature TOHO tours, or simply hire us to step into your existing itinerary to provide context and perspective.

Members from the WNBA Washington Mystics meet star player Natasha Cloud on a private tour outside of the White House. Photo By Cynthia Schiavetto Staliunas (Schiavetto Photography)

PUBLIC EVENTS

THE LINEUP

THE LINEUP is our public schedule offering both live and virtual programs each month. This includes women’s history tours, salons, book talks, and other special events. TOHO Members get special discounts and access to The LINEUP.

Tour participant photographs public art featuring Katherine Graham, publisher of the Washington Post. Photo By Cynthia Schiavetto Staliunas (Schiavetto Photography)

MEMBERSHIPS

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Joining the TOHO membership program is an investment in education, community, and creativity. We embrace guided tourism because of its unique ability to ignite social change. The support of our TOHO members is integral as we continue to grow. Women's history has been overlooked and undervalued for too long and it takes a wave of enthusiasm to elevate our stories and status. Herstory is our story - and it's still being written.

A Tour Of Her Own participates in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in honor or all women who serve and sacrifice. Image: Cynthia Schiavetto Staliunas by Schiavetto Studios

READ OUR BOOK

111 Places in Women's History That You Must Not Miss in Washington, DC

virtual Book club

Women's history is everywhere in Washington, if curious locals and adventurous tourists know where to look. As the District of Columbia evolved into one of the world's top tourist destinations, women emerged as pioneers and a town created to house the federal government matured into a gilded city affluent in feminist culture. Historic houses, hidden alleyways, and neighborhood parks stand as memorials to America's founding mothers who built the nation's capital. This book records the legacies of these women and encourages readers to explore their names on headstones, street signs, and buildings, while also discovering where hidden history is unmarked. Rising from a strong foundation, modern DC women have continued to nurture the legacy of their foremothers as chefs, artists, athletes, philanthropists, politicians, and entrepreneurs. Most notable are the stories of collaboration in which these women flout the myth that nothing gets accomplished in Washington. Feminism in the city is fueled by the creativity, leadership, and fortitude of local women, each with a personal experience that is uniquely special. While no story is the same, the themes of preservation and progress are weaved throughout this book as a reminder; her story is history and it is still being written.

“By highlighting these landmarks, this book shares the legacies of countless brave and influential women whose stories have been largely ignored by mainstream historical narratives. Further, the book also emphasizes the modern-day contributions of inspiring women throughout the city.” - National Organization for Women

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Hilda Taylor is the teacher we should all know about. Learn about her on our virtual tour of Arlington National Cemetery. Guide: Buck Johnson #hildataylor

🇺🇸 We are offering free tour tickets to our service members this Memorial Day weekend. Tag someone who serves in comments or send to a veteran and let them know! We have both virtual and live tours scheduled, so join from anywhere you are. Let us all remember to take a pause for a mindful moment and pay respects to all who have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms.

Join us in May for three different tour of Arlington National Cemetery and our monthly book talk! Options available live and virtually. Link in bio.

Pay your respects this Memorial Day Weekend by attending any of our three part tour series: Women of Arlington National Cemetery. Thursday (5/25): Virtual Part 2 Saturday (5/27): Live Part 1 Sunday (5/28): Live Part 3 Link in bio.

Happy Birthday to TOHO tour guide Lindsey Horn! You can find her leading our tours Women Who Climbed Capitol Hill, Hear Her Roar, and Over the Rainbow!

🎉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR VICE PRESIDENT @beccagrawl

Thank you @districtfray for hosting this GoFundMe for @kaitcal: “the founder of @atourofherown and an incredible advocate for women and the queer community in D.C., tragically lost her Petworth apartment + her two beloved cats to a fire on Tuesday, March 14 • • please join us in supporting this amazing community builder, who runs the first tourism company in the District to focus exclusively on women’s history, and constantly champions women’s representation in all spaces • • link in bio for her gofundme // 📷 courtesy of Kaitlin Calogera •

GoFundMe: There is a page setup to support TOHO Founder Kaitlin Calogera. Her home caught fire and she lost everything, including her two beloved cats. This place was essentially “TOHO Headquarters” where she stored business cards and cases of books. Over 100+ books were destroyed except for a few you see here. 111 Places buried under the rubble + a book about suffragists and one about First Ladies. Somehow, there’s something powerful about that. Any financial donation is greatly appreciated at this time via GoFundMe or through a TOHO membership. Eventually, Kaitlin would like to rebuild her library of women’s history books and will ask for help with that when the time is right. View @kaitcal for more context. GoFundMe link in bio and story.

Pictured here is Sergeant Kamille Torres who just took her last walk at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. She is handing off her rifle to PFC Jessica Kwiatkowski, the newest female in the platoon. She is the first ever infantrywoman to serve at the Tomb, and one of the firsts in the Old Guard. On behalf of the tour guide community, we share our excitement and support for PFC Kwiatkowski! #tomboftheunknownsoldier #arlingtonnationalcemetery #womenshistory #militaryhistory #arlingtonva #kamilletorres #jessicakwiatkowski #atourofherown #tohodc #womenshistorydc

#elizascidmore <<< Tag your Cherry Blossom photos. Each spring, DC is transformed by a burst of pink and white when the Japanese Cherry Blossoms bloom. This event, usually lasting no more than ten days, brings an estimated 1.5 million visitors to admire the more than 3,000 flowering trees in DC. There is no marker or plaque commemorating Eliza Scidmore, the woman responsible for this annual blossoming. Eliza was a world traveler, geographer, photographer, and author, who became the first woman to sit on the board of the National Geographic Society. Her brother was a career diplomat to Asia, and Eliza was able to accompany him. Frequent travel to Japan inspired Eliza to propose the idea in 1885 of planting Japanese cherry blossom trees in the nation’s capital. Eliza wrote, “[T]he blooming cherry tree is the most ideally, wonderfully beautiful tree that nature has to show, and its short-lived glory makes the enjoyment keener and more poignant.” Initial response was cold, but Eliza continued to advocate for the cause, proposing it every year to the Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds, as well as advocating to the press and writing letters to the White House. At every turn, the men in charge turned her down or ignored her entirely. Finally, in 1909, Scidmore wrote to First Lady Helen Taft and found an ally in her quest. Taft had also traveled to Japan and seen the cherry blossoms firsthand and actively supported the cause. The project then moved forward rapidly. Scidmore proposed planting a majority of the trees on the newly reclaimed land of Potomac Park, which Taft endorsed. When a Japanese delegation learned of the plans, an offer was made to contribute the trees. On March 27, 1912, Helen Taft would plant the first cherry tree, and Scidmore the only private citizen recorded in attendance. A plaque marks the spot where the first trees were planted, but Scidmore is not mentioned.

Our walking tours stimulate both body and mind while searching for deeper symbolism in the spaces around us. Our educational programs promote social justice and encourage civic engagement. #atourofherown #womenshistory #washingtondcwomen #tourswashingtondc #washingontondctours #tohodc