DEPARTMENT STORES:

A FEMININE OASIS

“All women love shopping” a cliché if there ever was one, that haunts half the population to this day. Shopping was a place for women to find a modicum of freedom from the male dominated world. This nexus of classes and commerce allowed for women to casually socialize in chance meetings and exercise the power of economics often unavailable to them in regimented day to day lives. Here in Washington DC, many of the largest department stores were situated between the White House and the United States Capitol Building. As we walk these streets strewn with the ghosts and skeletons of these iconic buildings, we’ll discuss the way a simple trip to the store was in fact so much more. This outdoor walking tour makes about 8 stops between Pennsylvania NW and Metro Center including Hecht’s and Garfinkel’s.  From consumerism to civil rights, learn about women like Mary Church Terrell and Mary Todd Lincoln. The group will start and finish at the Navy Memorial.