51 Steps To Freedom® Trail
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation forevermore!”
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Foggy Bottom/Dupont Circle West
Steps Include:
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Duke Ellington Birth-site, Marvin Gaye Mural, Bo Diddley Home
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Kennedy Center
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Lisner Auditorium, Ingrid Bergman, Toni Morrison, Nelson Mandela Garden
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O Museum in the Mansion
Music of Change - A Soundtrack of Courage, Culture, & Change
Across America’s history, music has been a powerful force for expression, unity, and progress. From go-go to jazz, gospel to protest anthems, artists have used their voices to reflect the times and help move the nation forward. This tour traces the sounds of freedom across the city — from street corners and stadiums to studios and stages. Along the way, you’ll meet the musicians, cultural leaders, and visionaries who used music to bring people together, amplify community voices, and define generations. Their songs were more than entertainment — they were calls to action.
Did You Know?
At the 1963 March on Washington, Bob Dylan performed side by side with folk legend Joan Baez on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Together, they sang protest songs just moments before Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech — turning music into a voice for change.
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Josephine Baker was a world-famous entertainer, French Resistance spy, and civil rights activist. Known for defying convention, she also lived openly in same-sex relationships — making her a bold symbol of both artistic freedom and personal pride.
Did You Know?
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Downtown & The National Mall
Steps Include:
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DAR Hall
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Freedom Plaza; The Willard Hotel, & The John A. Wilson Bldg., MLK Memorial, Marion Barry
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Ford’s Theater
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Lafayette Square Park
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Library of Congress
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Liberty Plaza
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National Museum of African American History & Culture
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U.S. Capitol
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Washington Monument
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Did You Know?
Before they were signed to Motown, The Supremes performed at the Howard Theatre — handpicked by Berry Gordy himself, who brought his future stars there to test their talent on a live audience.
U St. Corridor, Shaw & LeDroit Park
Steps Include:
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Ben's Chili Bowl, Jelly Roll Morton, Jungle Inn, Lincoln Theatre, The Colonnade Inn, Lee's Flowers, Bohemian Caverns
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Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators, Redskins, Negro National League
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Howard Theatre, Chuck Brown Way
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Women's Leadership Legacy Walk, Howard University
Bo Diddley, the legendary singer, guitarist, songwriter and music producer played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock & roll, lived in DC.
He discovered Marvin Gaye (also a DC resident) and introduced him to Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records.
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Did You Know?
Bonus
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.