A bronze relief of a regiment of civil war soldiers, with the foreground dominated by an officer on horseback.
Photo by Elizabeth Ann Jordan, courtesy of NPS.

The Art of Memory: A Civil War Walking Tour

date Saturday, November 7, 2026
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Free
Accessible
This tour includes a 2-mile walk along city streets between Ford’s Theatre and The Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, concluding in the National Gallery of Art.
Register

Step into the streets of Washington, D.C. for a guided exploration of how the Civil War has been memorialized in the nation’s capital. Led by Civil War memory historian Kevin M. Levin, this walking tour and museum experience traces monuments associated with the Union cause and concludes with an in-depth look at the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial at the National Gallery of Art. 

Where: The program starts at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St NW, Washington D.C. 20004. The program ends at National Gallery of Art, 6th St Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20565. Please note: This tour does not begin and end in the same location.

Parking and Transportation: Public transit is highly recommended. Ford’s Theatre is conveniently located near the Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stations. The National Gallery is conveniently located near the Archives and Judiciary Square metro stations. For visitors driving, an independent parking garage is located directly next to the theatre. For more information, please visit our Parking and Metro page.

What to Bring: Please bring a water bottle, wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather.

Are You an Educator? Classroom teachers may request a letter certifying 2-hours of Professional Development and a packet of resources to help you transform this program into a field trip for your students!