The nation's oldest, most prestigious house tour in the country is almost here. On Saturday, April 23, the public will be able to venture into some of Georgetown's most beautiful homes thanks to the 85th Annual Georgetown House Tour. 10 homes will open their doors to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., each one located within a six block radius of St. John’s Episcopal Church at 3240 O Street NW. Up to 1,800 people have attended a single year's event, and 1,500 are hoped for for this year's.
Along with an in-depth look at the grand dames of Georgetown, guests will also be provided a House Tour Magazine, a map with historic information on each house, and the chance to attend a tea party in the Blake Hall of St. Johns. Complemented by finger sandwiches and live music, the tea will be served from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
People stemming from Williamsburg to Pennsylvania trek to Washington, D.C. in buses just to see these houses, according to Georgetown resident Jill Altman, who is co-leading the tour with her husband Scott Altman, former NASA astronaut and actor in the movie "Top Gun."
In an interview with Curbed, Jill said, "I think you will definitely be impressed by the houses that we have this year."
The funds raised from the event benefit not only St. Johns, but causes in the community. Scott said, "It really helps fund the mission of the church and charities in the community, helping to enable a lot of the different things that we do, from taking sandwiches to homeless people to helping students learn to read and do their homework better."
If interested, guests can purchase tickets here, which range from $40 to $50. Tickets, costing $5 more, will also be available on the day of the tour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at St. Johns. For more information on the Georgetown House Tour, call St. John's Church at 202-338-2287 or email georgetownhousetour@gmail.com
• Georgetown House Tour [Official Website]