Leigh-J

Leigh

Jameson

16 years of experience
Washington DC
United States of America (USA)

Contact Options

If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.

About

I’m a guide based in Washington DC but have served as a tour director from Boston to Savannah, working with guests of all ages from around the globe. I have over thirty years experience as an actor and storyteller on stages across the country and am a proud member of AEA & SAG-AFTRA. For the past dozen years I have worked with some of the most prestigious museums in the country, including the Smithsonian’s American History Museum, National Museum for African American History and Culture, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and Colonial Williamsburg.

I’m co-creator of 52% Productions; our podcast works to share the stories of our shared histories, re-centering the communities marginalized from the traditional canon.

My guidebooks for guides — Alexandria & Mount Vernon and Virginia’s Historic Triangle — have been published by TripSchool.

Tours Offered & Destination Knowledge

Bus ToursCultural/Specialty ToursGeneral Walking ToursLarge Group ToursLocal GuideMulti-Day Tour Director/LeaderMuseum DocentPrivate ToursStudent Tour Director

As a local guide in the Washington DC metro area, I offer:

  • The National Mall & Monuments, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill
  • Small group experiences in many Smithsonian museums and the NGA
  • Specialized walking tours of Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria
  • Ghosts!

US Tour Director experience:

  • Washington DC
  • New York City
  • Boston
  • Philadelphia
  • Colonial Williamsburg
  • Savannah
Fun Fact!
I am an awesome teller of ghost stories!
Hobbies & Interests
I love an art museum (bonus points for a nice café)! When I'm off the road, you can find me in my garden.

Virtual Tour Experience

Created virtual tours/training webinars via Zoom with Washington Walks, Alexandria Colonial Tours, and TripSchool. Topics have included: history of Alexandria, DC; Lucy Burns, Suffragist; tour logistics of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown; George Washington and Black History.

Testimonials

"Funny, charismatic, intelligent, and an excellent teacher I am literally going to call her for all future tours I do in DC because she is that good. Leigh took our tour to a level that was as good as a study abroad experience in college without it being too overwhelming for people who don't want to be too academic. There are many people who claim they are 'tour guides' because they can speak to a subject a little more than the average person, but that does not make them a guide, let alone a good one. But Leigh is a great guide, and if you choose to ask her questions along they way the tour just gets better." - Chase R.

"Leigh was the best guide we could have asked for! She knows so much about the area and all of the history associated with it. She is very knowledgeable, personable, and had such a fun energy. We loved our time with Leigh and couldn’t recommend a tour with her more." - Emily P.

"Thank you for an outstanding African American history tour of Old Town Alexandria last Saturday night. It was life-changing information that opened our eyes to what happened in Alexandria.  I know that I will never look at the Duke Street corridor the same. You are an outstanding tour guide, educator, presenter. We all were so fortunate to be part of your tour last week." - Lisa C.

Details

Gateway Airport(s)

DCA, IAD, BWI

Licenses

Washington, D.C., New York City (NYC)

Training

Language(s)

English

Additional Education

  • MA English Lit, George Mason University
  • BA French, James Madison University
  • Shakespeare Studies, Shakespeare's Globe London
  • Teaching Critical Thinking through Art, National Gallery of Art DC
  • Hospitality & Tourism Management, Florida Atlantic University

General Availability

Freelance juggling, but room for more

Photo Album