51 Steps To Freedom® About
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace”
- Jimi Hendrix
50 states one nation®
Take this trail to unravel the mystery of why DC is the hub of American history and culture, and
how it continues to redefine America as a beacon of liberty and opportunity
51 Steps to Freedom is a Washington, DC based non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to creating the largest outdoor museum in the world. This trail fosters a deeper understanding of America’s shared history.
Our Nation's Capitol is the premier destination for celebrating the core American ideals of liberty, opportunity, and civic responsibility. This trail uncovers the history and legacies of various cultures and advocates whose voices, actions, and sacrifices have played a pivotal role in shaping our country’s progress in the pursuit of a more unified society.
51 Steps provides an educational experience that encourages reflection, inspires hope, and fosters understanding, helping us to move forward together toward a brighter tomorrow.
"I believe there is only one race — the human race." ~ Mrs. Rosa Parks
OUR MISSION
We honor our past.
We aim to transform our future by promoting, educating, and inspiring understanding.
We believe in liberty and opportunity for all.
OUR VISION
We share stories of the people and events that have shaped our Nation’s pursuit of liberty and progress. Appreciating the full spectrum of American history provides the path toward a more unified and prosperous tomorrow.
OUR GOAL
We see a world where music, history, art, technology, and storytelling come together
to inspire unity, build national pride, and embrace shared ideals.
WHY NOW
Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary
July 2026
WHY WE NEED THIS
"Our young people need
to know their history"
~ Mayor Muriel Bowser
Honorary Co-Chair, 51 Steps
As our nation’s capital, DC has always been the place where people come together to exercise their First Amendment rights in peaceful and meaningful ways. From the Women’s Suffrage Procession on March 3, 1913, to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in August 1963, to the Anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1960s—1970s—and continuing today—our city's streets have paved the way for change, understanding, and collective growth.
-
Drives much needed revenue to the city
-
Supports our hard hit hospitality and tourism sectors
-
Capitalizes on the current trend toward authentic local outdoor experiences
-
Boosts DC's morale and pride, encouraging it's citizens to stay, move back & thrive
-
Offers a new way to experience DC’s rich — and little known history & culture — outside the confines of a traditional museum
-
Provides an immersive experience for students to gain understanding of their history — and each other.
-
Encourages economic empowerment for local artists to have their voices seen in a unique, impactful way
-
Ties our rich history and culture together in a meaningful way for students, residents and visitors alike
-
Creates safer communities by generating strong bonds among neighbors
-
Gets people off the mall — drives foot traffic &
revenue to less traveled neighborhoods in the city
-
Galvanizes DC's reputation as the epicenter of change for The Nation
-
Transforms underserved parts of the city into vivid representations of local identity
-
Gives rich immersive educational opportunities for all who visit
-
Highlights important social, political, historical and environmental topics
National Impact & Local Benefits
Promotes unity and growth through educational experiences — utilizing innovative technology — to foster cultural understanding and strengthen community bonds.
PROOF OF CONCEPT
The Boston Model (started in 1951)
The Boston Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long path through downtown Boston, Massachusetts, that passes by 16 locations showcasing Boston’s pivotal role in the birth of America’s independence. Marked largely with brick, it winds between Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. Each neighborhood has a different red line marking the trail to highlight the personality of each neighborhood:
The Boston Freedom Trail has become a world-renowned, signature tourist experience attracting over
four million people annually to visit Boston’s precious 17th-, 18th- , and 19th-century sites.
Drives Tourism
-
Routinely listed as “Top Ten Things To Do In Boston”.
-
22 million people visit Boston each year, more than four million people take “the walk” each year
-
Red line through the city markets the tour & generates interest
Drives Revenue
-
Generates over $1 billion in annual spending
-
Creates jobs in hospitality, tourism, and education fields
"This unique citywide trail will provide an experience for our citizens and visitors to gain a better understanding of our history — and each other."
~ Honorary Co-Chair, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Founding Organizations
Founding Partners
African American Civil War Museum
Ben's Chili Bowl Foundation
CRP, Incorporated
DC Chamber of Commerce
Greater Washington Urban League
Industrial Bank
O Museum in the Mansion
PNC Foundation
Reston Limousine
The Theatre Lab
Graham Holdings
Link Strategic Partners
Support 51 Steps To Freedom
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the 51 Steps to Freedom Trail offers a unique Washington DC tour experience, highlighting key people and places in DC neighborhoods like Anacostia, where history and culture come alive.
This interactive history tour features a groundbreaking augmented reality experience that brings key moments and figures from DC’s history to life, from the Washington Monument and the White House to neighborhood landmarks, showcasing the variety of movements that shaped America’s journey for liberty and opportunity.
By donating or volunteering, you help preserve and share these stories of freedom, resilience and opportunity. Your support ensures that these vital narratives are celebrated on the 51 Steps to Freedom Trail and brought to life through immersive web AR experiences, advancing our mission to create a liberty trail in DC.
Join us in exploring DC's neighborhoods and supporting this transformative project. Whether you're interested in a monument tour, a city tour, or simply want to make a difference, your involvement is essential to making the 51 Steps to Freedom a lasting educational tool for all who visit Washington DC.
I'd like to to donate to help tell the story of
Washington, DC — and America’s — journey for liberty and opportunity.