A memorial can tell you whom a country honors. Understanding why—and how that meaning has changed—opens a much more interesting conversation.
I’m David Shaw. I’ve lived in Washington for 38 years, worked with the government, and spent decades exploring the history and workings of this city. I started Off the Record Tours because I wanted the freedom to share that history with depth, honesty, and a sense of humor.
Walk with me, and we’ll explore the people behind the places: their ambitions, achievements, contradictions, and the choices that still shape our lives. We’ll examine familiar stories, challenge persistent myths, and make room for the difficult truths that belong in an honest account of our past.
There’s plenty to enjoy along the way. History supplies remarkable characters, unexpected connections, and political ironies that hardly need embellishment.
My tours are private and conversational. Bring the question you’ve always wanted to ask. Tell me what catches your attention. We’ll take time to look closely and talk about what it means.
That’s the spirit of Off the Record: candid, well-supported history, shared in good company.
A piece of the Moon in a stained-glass window. Darth Vader keeping watch from the outside. A pulpit where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke just days before his assassination. Washington National Cathedral rewards a closer look. Step inside, and the height, craftsmanship, and changing light may hold your attention first. Then the questions begin. Who created all this? What were they trying to say? And how did a place of worship become part of the nation’s public life? Join me, David Shaw, to explore the people and ideas behind the stone and glass. We’ll discover stories of faith, ambition, remembrance, and imagination—with a few wonderfully unexpected details along the way. I first visited the Cathedral as a child and never forgot it. Today, as a certified Cathedral guide, I enjoy helping others discover what makes this place so memorable. You don’t need religious beliefs or architectural knowledge to join us. Bring your curiosity. You’ll leave with stories to remember and a new appreciation for what this extraordinary place reveals about Washington—and ourselves.
A name on a headstone. A few dates. Perhaps a handful of words about a lifetime.
At Arlington National Cemetery, those brief inscriptions open the door to extraordinary stories. Behind them are people who shaped American life: presidents and performers, athletes and activists, military heroes and people whose contributions deserve to be better known.
Walk with me, David Shaw, and we’ll explore what their lives reveal about our country—its ideals, its contradictions, and the ways it has changed. There is courage here, and sacrifice. There are also surprising personalities, unexpected connections, and moments when history’s irony speaks for itself.
Arlington is a place of remembrance, but remembrance does something for the living. It shapes whom we honor, what we value, and how we understand ourselves.
You’ll leave with stories to remember and a deeper connection to the people beneath these stones.
Few people think beyond the Capitol when they think of the Hill. This tour takes you to the heart of a neighborhood with a fascinating history that still speaks to us today. Learn about these famous locations from a former Capitol Hill resident.
A grand house makes a statement. So does the country that chooses it for an embassy. Along Massachusetts Avenue, buildings once created to display private wealth now represent nations. Flags have replaced family names, but the desire to make an impression remains. Join me, David Shaw, for a walk from Washington National Cathedral toward Dupont Circle. We’ll explore the people behind these addresses: those who built their fortunes, those who represented their countries, and those whose lives became part of the neighborhood’s history. There is beauty here, but also ambition, conflict, faith, and the occasional political absurdity. We’ll look closely, ask questions, and discover how much a street can tell us about Washington. You’ll leave with memorable stories and a richer understanding of how people and nations establish their place in the capital.
Perhaps there’s a part of Washington you’ve always wanted to explore. A place you’ve passed a hundred times without knowing its story. Or a question about American history that you’d love to understand better. Let’s start there. I’m David Shaw, and I’ll work with you to shape a private tour around your interests. Whether you’re visiting for the first time, returning with friends, or rediscovering the city you call home, we’ll find the places and stories that make the experience meaningful to you. Along the way, we’ll explore the people behind the landmarks: their ambitions, achievements, contradictions, and the choices that still influence our lives. Expect honest historical context, engaging conversation, and a little dry humor when the circumstances deserve it. You don’t need a finished itinerary. Tell me what sparks your curiosity, and I’ll help with the planning. The aim is a day you’ll remember together—and a deeper understanding of Washington that stays with you.
Your time here matters. You deserve an experience that holds your attention, welcomes your questions, and gives you something worth remembering.
I bring historical knowledge, professional training, and decades of life in Washington to each tour. Just as important, I enjoy the conversation: finding out what interests you and helping you connect what we see with the larger American story.
Expect thoughtful storytelling, honest context, and an approachable guide. You can explore serious subjects, laugh at history’s absurdities, and come away seeing a familiar place differently.
I’m a Certified Master Guide of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC, a certified Washington National Cathedral guide, and a licensed District tour guide.My government experience an...
I’m a Certified Master Guide of the Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC, a certified Washington National Cathedral guide, and a licensed District tour guide.
My government experience and years in the city help me connect Washington’s landmarks with its political life and historical context. I take accuracy seriously—and welcome the questions that lead us deeper.
Your tour is private, shared with the people you choose to bring.
We’ll discuss practical needs in advance so you know what to expect. During the tour, I’ll pay attention to conditions and help your group explore comfortably.
A good story gives you someone to care about. Historical context helps you understand why their choices mattered.We’ll meet people whose courage, ambition, mistakes, and contradictions shaped Washingt...
A good story gives you someone to care about. Historical context helps you understand why their choices mattered.
We’ll meet people whose courage, ambition, mistakes, and contradictions shaped Washington. I’ll distinguish documented history from legend, explore difficult subjects with respect, and bring a little dry humor where it belongs.
You’ll have time to ask questions and follow your curiosity. The stories we discover together may become the conversations you continue afterward.
Most frequent questions and answers
Please contact me as soon as you know you cannot attend. I’ll explain the cancellation or rescheduling options that apply to your reservation.
If flexibility is important to your plans, ask about the applicable terms before booking.
We get wet. Fortunately, we are waterproof.
Tours generally go ahead in the rain when conditions are safe. Bring an umbrella and dress for the weather during outdoor portions.
If conditions such as lightning, flooding, snow, or ice make the tour unsafe, we’ll arrange to reschedule.
Be comfortable, not fashionable. This isn’t New York City.
Comfortable walking shoes are essential. Dress for the season and choose clothes you’ll enjoy spending time in.
Washington summers can be hot, so bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. In cooler weather, layers are useful. We may spend time in places without nearby shops or water fountains, so a little preparation makes the experience more comfortable.
Gratuities are not included in the tour price. They are never expected and are always appreciated.
Washington is a city where people build careers, raise families, make art, organize for change, and argue about almost everything.
Its neighborhoods reveal another dimension of the capital. An ordinary-looking street can hold a story about influence, belonging, or a struggle that changed people’s lives.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or have lived nearby for years, we’ll look beyond the familiar image of Washington. You’ll discover places worth noticing and stories that connect the city’s daily life with its larger history.
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Lincoln Memorial undercroft opened this summer. The best part is a look at this vast vaulted space with 122 concrete columns that support the chamber...
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What I believe is the most beautiful work of funerary art is found in Rock Creek Cemetery. It memorializes Marian Hooper Adams, known as Clover to her...
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