A TOUR OF HER OWN ANNOUNCES 2024 LINEUP OF WOMEN’S HISTORY WALKING TOURS AND VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB
[WASHINGTON, DC January 4th, 2024] DC-based tourism company A Tour of Her Own (TOHO) is announcing the release of their 2024 calendar of women’s history tours and virtual book club. The LINEUP schedule consists of monthly “herstory” walking tours hosted in Washington, DC as well as the TOHO Book Club hosted on Zoom. The public is invited to participate in 30+ programs now open for registration, with free access available to anyone who purchases an annual Trailblazer Membership. All memberships are discounted for a limited-time only.
The 2024 campaign is themed “This is your chance.” TOHO President Kaitlin Calogera explained, “This is your chance to make time for yourself. Walking on our tours is your chance to move your body and explore parts of the city you never knew about. Committing to book club is your chance to spend more time reading this year. Joining our community is your chance to make new friends. Participation in our events is your chance to stay civically engaged during an election year. Purchasing a membership is your chance to support a small business where there is always something to learn.”
TOHO programs in The LINEUP are led by a team of professional tour guides who educate on current issues like the Equal Rights Amendment as well as women’s historical contributions in government, military, art, science, activism, service, theater, sports and more. The most anticipated series this year is the return of TOHO’s Virtual Book Club, where Calogera will be joined by her co-author Rebecca Grawl to highlight their city guidebook, 111 Places in Women’s History That You Must Not Miss in Washington, DC. The pair will meet with the group on Zoom once a month to share historical readings, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and personal reflections of their work. Each meeting focuses on 11 new places and will cover all 111 chapters over a 10-month span. Chapters include local historic venues like the Belmont-Paul House, Mansion on O, Hillwood Estate, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The book also features women-owned restaurants like Beau Thai, Puddin, and Teaism.
A Tour Of Her Own is recognized as a community leader both locally and nationally in the tourism industry. TOHO is a member of Destination DC, The Guild of Professional Tour Guides, and the National Women’s History Alliance who is responsible for the establishment of Women’s History Month. TOHO will continue their partnership with the National Women’s History Museum in 2024 to elevate the museum’s exhibition “We Who Believe in Freedom” located inside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Public Library. The Black Feminist DC tour series will include two bus tours and one walking tour to highlight Black feminists and organizations featured in the exhibition such as Eleanor Holmes Norton and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. To receive notifications about registration for these tours, be sure to sign up here for email alerts.
Last year, A Tour Of Her Own was voted “Best Tour For Out-Of-Towners” in Washington City Paper. TOHO President Kaitlin Calogera emphasizes however, that their tours are wildly popular among locals. “We’re set up so that tourists can get a virtual look into DC life while local Washingtonians are offered a fresh perspective of their city neighborhoods as seen through a feminist lens. We often receive positive feedback about introducing new stories and sites to folks who have lived here for decades.”
Supporters of A Tour Of Her Own are encouraged to reserve individual or group tickets now for 2024 events. Free and discounted tours and book talks are available through the Membership Program which offers three tiers of packages for individuals and one tier for business sponsorship and community leaders. TOHO is a woman-owned, LGBT+ small business incorporated in Washington, DC. All press and media inquiries should be sent to info@atourofherown.com.
TOHO Virtual Book Club is led by the authors of 111 Places in Women's History That You Must Not Miss in Washington, DC. Kaitlin Calogera and Rebecca Grawl will share historical readings, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and personal reflections of their work.
From suffragists with colorful sashes to modern feminists in pink hats, women have marched down Pennsylvania Avenue for more than a century rallying for voting rights, the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, and other social justice causes. The building in the background is often referred to as the “Old Post Office” tower, but it was officially named the “Nancy Hanks Center” by Congress in 1983. As chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, Hanks led a diverse group of citizens, organizations, and government agencies in preserving the Old Post Office Building from demolition. She said, "Old buildings are like old friends . . . they assure us in times of change.” She saw in the Old Post Office an opportunity to promote the ideals of the National Endowment and "to encourage people to dream about their cities, to consider the alternatives before they tear them down." Congress honored her by naming the Old Post Office and its adjacent plazas the "Nancy Hanks Center.” Source: National Park Service
In the alleyways of the U Street Corridor is a larger-than-life mural of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg created by artist Rose Jaffe and commission by Flock CEO Lisa Wise. Flock DC is a family of mission-driven companies that are committed to sustainable and equitable housing justice. Reflecting on the dedication ceremony in September 2018, CEO Lisa Wise shared these words, "As I joined so many others at the mural to honor Justice Ginsburg this weekend, I did so promising her - and my mom, and my grandmother - to fight for a just tomorrow. I have them to thank for reminding me that breaking those barriers isn't just my right as a woman; indeed, it's my obligation." Pictured here are international participants on a women’s leadership tour led by A Tour Of Her Own and organized by Enough Labs.
TOHO’s 5th Anniversary celebration “HERstory Together” brought visitors from around the world to DC for a three-day Feminist City Weekend Experience. The featured event was a Saturday Night Salon hosted at Hotel Zena with keynote Speaker Andrea Dawson Sheehan of Dawson Design Associates, the visionary behind the hotel’s empowering feminine design. Gathered around Andrea here are local creatives who contribute to the arts and humanities in Washington, DC. Their murals, installations, and artwork have been spotlighted in local neighborhoods like NoMa, at major events like the Cherry Blossom Festival and Capitol Pride, and even on the cover of the iconic Ms. Magazine! (November 11th, 2023)
TOHO President Kaitlin Calogera is pictured here at the Literary Hill BookFest at Eastern Market participating on a panel to discuss her book 111 Places in Women’s History That You Must Not Miss in Washington, DC. The group of local authors discussed the power of storytelling, place-based learning, and navigating uncomfortable history on tour. Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie