Learn about the history of swimming in the Tidal Basin

Join a walking tour of the Tidal Basin covering the history of segregated swimming in DC and ongoing efforts to make the Potomac swimmable and accessible for everyone. In the early twentieth century, Black residents of DC organized to create a safe swimming location on the Basin's west side. Their efforts stalled in the summer 1919—when white vigilante terror forced Black Washingtonians away from the river—but ultimately continued through the civil rights era and beyond.

Today's ongoing struggle for a swimmable, truly accessible Potomac builds on the achievements and lessons of these early river champions. This tour will be led by Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar, author of Potomac Fever: Reflections on the Nation's River (2025). Buy it at your favorite independent bookstore or online via Bellevue Literary Press.

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