DC Unveils Outdoor “Museum” – 51 Steps to Freedom

As DC gears up for the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026, local leaders have unveiled an ambitious new project that could redefine how millions experience the nation’s capital.

51 Steps to Freedom, an augmented reality–powered outdoor museum spanning eight miles and up to 51 immersive stops, seeks to transform DC into a living, breathing narrative of America’s journey toward liberty and opportunity.

Conceived as a tribute to “50 States, One Nation,” the initiative features 51 landmark locations, each representing a unique facet of American—and DC—history.

The fully developed trail, organized in a free digital map, activates AR experiences when users point their phones at landmarks—from the Washington Monument, Capitol, and White House, to neighborhood sites like the Howard Theatre, Frederick Douglass’s home, and the African American Civil War Memorial.

The app delivers over 300 stories curated by experts from the University of the District of Columbia, Howard, GWU, and Georgetown, and encourages interactive engagement with activities like digitally “signing” the Declaration of Independence and exploring the Constitution.