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Washington National Mall Mystery: The Philip Reid Time Capsule

🔒 Instant Access: Book now and start immediately. No need to wait for a guide.

⏱️ Total Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume whenever you want.

🧩 Gamified Discovery: Solve 12 location-based puzzles to unlock hidden stories and secret spots.

📍 Starting Point: Columbus Circle, Washington, DC 20002, United States

🛡️ Free Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours before your planned start for a full refund.

🌐 Available In: 🇬🇧 English

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Places you will visit

12

It will take you

85-115 mins

You will walk

5250 steps

Total distance

4 km

Route you will explore

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Starting point Columbus Circle
Washington, DC 20002, United States
Finish point Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon
New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

About this quest

A Yale historian arrives in Washington with a single lead: a mysterious email pointing to a time capsule hidden somewhere on the Capitol grounds.

The trail follows Philip Reid, an enslaved man who helped raise the Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol dome in 1863, and then disappeared from the historical record entirely.

Walk through the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, and a dozen landmarks woven into the history of American democracy and the people it failed. The answer you find at the end will be more personal than you expected.

Highlights

    - Stand where Philip Reid stood when the Statue of Freedom was raised above the Capitol dome - Walk through the Japanese American Memorial and learn what two communities' histories share - Discover what a court document from 1860 reveals about the man you have been chasing - Find out why a Washington Post journalist is waiting for you at the Peace Monument

The mission: Your story in Washington D.C.

You are a historian at Yale, and for the past three years you have been following a thread that most of your colleagues dismissed as too thin to pull.

Philip Reid was enslaved.

In 1863, he helped sculptor Thomas Crawford solve the engineering problem that allowed the Statue of Freedom to be raised atop the Capitol dome.

When Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act that same year, Reid became a free man.

And then, as far as the historical record is concerned, he vanished.

You have spent those three years looking for where he went.

This morning, an email arrived. No subject line. The body read only: "Search for the time capsule.

In it are the answers about the man representing generations of African Americans forced into bondage. Your friend from The Land of The Rising Sun."

You have no friend in Japan. You do not know who sent this.

But you have a flight to Washington.

Good to know before you play

  • Best for couples
  • Recommended activity for families

Tips & Recommendations

👟

Wear Comfortable Shoes

You will be walking throughout the city, so comfortable footwear is essential for enjoying the experience.

🔋

Charge Your Phone

Make sure your smartphone is at least 60% charged. The quest runs through the Questo app, and you will be using it throughout.

🌤️

Check the Weather

This is an outdoor activity. Bring an umbrella or sunscreen depending on the forecast.

📸

Bring a Camera

You will discover photogenic locations and hidden gems perfect for capturing memories.

💧

Stay Hydrated

Bring water, especially during warmer months or longer quests.

👥

Play with Friends

While you can play solo, quests are more fun with friends or family. One ticket works for a group.

Ratings and Reviews

4.47

68 ratings

5 Stars
59%
4 Stars
31%
3 Stars
9%
2 Stars
1%
1 Star
0%
Reviews
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Craig Brown

24 Dec 2025

Tabitha Lenzini

29 Oct 2025

Jordan Zoock

29 Oct 2025

Bars

11 Nov 2024

Monsta

10 Nov 2024
it was a great interactive educational hunt!! We loved it

Beat the best: Top Washington D.C. explorers

Tabitha Lenzini
Tabitha LenziniRookie
3700 XP
Sanai McVay
Sanai McVaySeeker
3700 XP
Craig Brown
Craig BrownRookie
3670 XP

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