51 Steps To Freedom® Trail
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation forevermore!”
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Visionary Scientists - Powering Progress Through Discovery
From the depths of the Arctic to the frontiers of outer space, Washington, D.C. has long been home to minds that redefined what was possible. Trace the footsteps of bold thinkers who pushed the boundaries of science and society—unlocking new frontiers in medicine, energy, astronomy, and human potential. Walk the path of discovery to meet the pioneers who turned questions into breakthroughs—and courage into lasting legacy.
Foggy Bottom/Dupont Circle West
Steps Include:
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Alexander Graham Bell Home
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Dr. Charles Drew & Dr. Rayford Logan Homes
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Kennedy Center
Did You Know?
Dr. Charles Drew revolutionized medicine by developing the first large-scale blood banks—but he was also a teacher. At Howard University, he trained young Black surgeons who carried his legacy into hospitals across the world.
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Constitution Gardens was once a military complex—but today, it’s a living example of environmental science. Reclaimed through careful engineering and landscape design, the Gardens reflect how science shapes not only technology, but the land beneath our feet.
Did You Know?
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Downtown & The National Mall
Steps Include:
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Constitution Gardens, Declaration of Independence Memorial
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Library of Congress
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National Museum of African American History & Culture
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Supreme Court
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U.S. Capitol
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Washington Monument
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White House
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Did You Know?
In 1855, after years of relentless advocacy by Dorothea Dix, Congress founded the nation’s first federally operated psychiatric hospital on a hilltop in D.C. known as St. Elizabeth’s tract. Over time, the hospital became a national leader in brain science, pioneering early research in neurology, trauma, and mental health care.
Anacostia/Congress Heights
Steps Include:
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United States Colored Cemetery & St., Susie King-Taylor Elizabeths Hospital
The first person to reach the North Pole was an African American, Matthew Henson, who lived in Georgetown?
Academy Award winner Taraji P. Henson, is
the great-great granddaughter of his brother.
Did You Know?
Bonus
Special Bonus Stops
Steps Include:
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Department of Energy, Former Atomic Energy Site
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NASA
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Spy Museum & Benjamin Banneker Park
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The Wharf
U St. Corridor, Shaw & LeDroit Park
Steps Include:
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Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators, Redskins, Negro National League
Augmented Reality Trail in Washington DC
51 Steps To Freedom® is transforming Washington, DC into the largest outdoor museum — in the world. Spanning over eight miles, this one-of-a-kind augmented reality trail explores D.C.'s extraordinary history, culture, and its ongoing journey toward liberty and opportunity for all.