DC's dedicated sports history tours: where sports meet civil rights, scandal, espionage and hidden stories. Public, private and custom tours.
Playmaker Tours DC are dedicated sports history tours, exploring how sports history is American history – with DC at the center of the action for generations. Playmaker Tours uncover the stories of athletes, teams, coaches, Senators, Presidents, and locals, hidden in plain sight at the National Mall, DC museums, and local neighborhoods.
Our tours highlight the role of sports in civil rights movements, military history, juicy Capitol Hill scandals, international spy capers, journalism, and more. Among other stories: Meet an MLB catcher who became a wartime spy; uncover Jackie Robinson’s trailblazing pre-MLB time in the Army; hear the story of DC’s own “Grandfather of Black Basketball”; and discover how a President’s daughter’s gambling led to a ban on horse racing in DC.
Playmaker Tours are original, entertaining journeys, with a local guide and lifelong sports history junkie.
Tour options:
• Public walking tours: Common Ground: Sports History & the American Experience (National Mall); Changing the Game: Sports and Civil Rights (NW DC); Shaw to the Show: A Home Field History of DC Baseball (Shaw Neighborhood and Nationals Park area, including Metro); themed tours added seasonally!
• Private tours: All public tours are bookable as private experiences for families, traveling fans, or other groups.
• Custom itineraries: Custom-built tours by sport, era, or neighborhood are available!
Amenities
- Open to public