A couple of weeks back I had the chance to take a
walking tour of DC with the author of
Prohibition in DC: How Dry We Weren't, Mr. Garrett Peck. About twice a year he leads a few history-minded imbibers on a 1.5 mile trek around DC highlighting some of the prohibition-era points of interest still standing, beginning at the Temperance Fountain near the
Navy Memorial/Archives Metro Station (across from Indiana Plaza on 7th & Penn. Ave. NW). A natural companion to the book, his in-person narrative really makes the
Temperance Tour come alive with drama, thought-provoking sentiments, and some humorous anecdotes and trivia to keep the pace of the tour flowing well.
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| The Temperance Fountain |
Mr. Peck does a great job characterizing the nature of DC during the 1910's - 1920's, especially how the neighborhoods were different (and peppered with speakeasies everywhere!) at the time. More importantly, he spends time looking strategically at how national trends were affecting or occurring simultaneous to the activities in the Capital, such as the change in immigration demographics at the time, and the temperance movement's partnership with the women's suffrage movement.
The Temperance Tour is FREE, mostly flat, easy to walk, and kid-friendly except for the INtemperance hour spent with post-tour drinks at a local pub. You do need a pre-loaded metro card, however, and will finish near Embassy Row at the
Woodrow Wilson House, two metro stops away from the start point.
You guys I had SUCH A BLAST! There was so much to learn, it was fascinating. I highly highly (did I say highly?) recommend this tour for history buffs, imbibers of all varieties, and even the abstainers. Because...well...the 'noble experiment' was
their 15 minutes of fame...
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