Hidden history

Learn about D.C.'s Civil Rights History

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About the Creators

DC Civil Rights Tour App

My name is Eliza Dorton, and I am one of the founders of the DC Civil Rights Tour. I am 18 years old and a senior in high school in Bethesda, Maryland. Creating this app was such a meaningful experience, and I am excited to keep expanding.

My name is Lily Dorton, and I am the other founder of the DC Civil Rights Tour. I am 20 years old and a sophomore in college in the Boston area.

The two of us ave lived in Washington, D.C. our entire lives with our younger brother and parents. As young people living in our nation’s capital, we have been on countless field trips to Smithsonian Museums, the National Mall, and other landmarks. We have also learned about Civil Rights consistently in school. However, in 2020, we realized that we had never specifically learned about the Civil Rights Movement in our hometown of DC.

Press

October 11, 2022

7News DC: 2 Md. high schoolers create app to highlight DC civil rights landmarks

Lily and Eliza Dorton were only 15 and 13 years old when they started doing their homework on the history of civil rights here in the District of Columbia.

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October 5, 2022

Fox 5 Washington DC: Teens create DC Civil Rights Tour app

While learning about D.C.'s central role in the African American civil rights movement, the sisters decided to create an app so that others could learn too. They consulted a Black studies professor at Suffolk University and reached out to Rohulamin Quander, a multi-generation Washingtonian and retired judge, to mark less-familiar locations.

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October 3, 2022

Washington City Paper

Two Maryland high school students, Lily and Eliza Dorton, created an app that features an interactive map of civil rights landmarks throughout D.C.

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The Sacramento Observer: High Schoolers Launch Civil Rights Tour App

“Washington, D.C. and our country have been shaped by the dedication and hope of Black Americans,” the sisters said in a statement. “Black Americans were leading the fight for equal rights. As kids living in the D.C. area, we wanted to create a tour reflecting the truth about civil rights in Washington, D.C. so that everyone, including young people, can learn more about this important history.”The app showcases an interactive map that aids users navigate their way through 17 locations with visuals, audio recordings, and synopses telling the stories of each landmark and the people connected to them.

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September 29, 2022

The Washington Informer: High Schoolers Launch D.C. Civil Rights Tour App

Two Washington, D.C.-area high school students have created an interactive app that highlights the history of civil rights in the District.Lily and Eliza Dorton, co-founders of the DC Civil Rights Tour app, have an instrument providing an easy way for residents and tourists to learn more about the civil rights movement in the city.The Dorton sisters, who attend the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda., Md., wanted to focus on places where African Americans challenged segregation and broke down barriers in the face of oppression.

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Reviews

People are loving
DC Civil Rights Tour

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The Civil Rights Tour of DC exemplifies the fight for civil rights through clear, impactful audio recordings. I love the accessibility and layout of each location and how easy it is to navigate the app!

Lisa B.

I really enjoyed the fluidity of the content in the app and how diligent it all is. The message behind the app is direct; its purpose is to educate on black people's civil oppression and
inequality during the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Tour of DC concisely reminds and educates the audience of that.

Martin M.

The tour/app is truly worth the time and an excellent recounting of history! All of the locations on the app connect to one another, whether it is the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial or Lafayette Square Park. The historical content is captivating as the voice actor retells the story of several African Americans fighting for their rights in the nation's capital.

David R.