Pennsylvania Avenue: Murder Bay to Main Street Walking Tour

Pennsylvania Avenue is more than a street—it’s America’s national stage. From presidential inaugurations and protest marches to funeral processions and parades, this broad boulevard has witnessed the nation’s triumphs and tragedies. But behind the pageantry lies a story of conflict and reinvention.

First envisioned by city planner Pierre L’Enfant as Washington’s “grand avenue,” Pennsylvania Avenue became notorious in the 19th century as the boundary of “Murder Bay,” a district of gambling dens, brothels, and saloons. By the 1940s, massive government-led redevelopment replaced the neighborhood with Federal Triangle; an imposing complex of Neoclassical office buildings that still dominate the landscape today.

On this two-hour walking tour with DC Design Tours, we’ll explore the White House neighborhood and trace the dramatic evolution of Pennsylvania Avenue itself, uncovering how design, politics, and power transformed Murder Bay into America’s Main Street.