Skye Cranney
Guide
Skye was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, spending her childhood and adolescence mountain biking, river rafting, and attending Boise State University football games on the blue turf. After earning her Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees (both in History) in Utah and Wyoming, she arrived in D.C. by way of Dallas, where she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Ph.D. in American History in May 2024. Though her dissertation (and hopefully eventual book) focuses on early Hollywood, her passion for anything related to American history is unending - just try to get her to stop talking about it once she’s gotten started.
She began her touring career at the Old Idaho State Penitentiary where she interned after receiving her Bachelors’. There, she gained an enormous appreciation for the people whose stories she told and thrived on the enthusiasm for history she could inspire in others. After engaging in an intensive research project at the site, she collaborated with a coworker to create a podcast about the Old Idaho State Penitentiary and the men and women who spent time there. Through her work on the podcast, she developed an even greater love for storytelling, leading her to take a job at Unscripted Tours in August 2024.
Though she is a recent transplant to Washington D.C. and the DMV area, she loves exploring the city, finding good eateries, learning new stories, and working everyday to become a true Washingtonian. When not giving tours or working on her podcast or book project, you can more than likely find her watching as many classic films as possible, both at home on her TV and on the big screen in local theaters. Ask her for her classic film recommendations after checking out her Washington D.C. and DMV area recommendations below!
Have a few hours to kill before your next tour? If you want to get off your feet, have a drink, and play some games, check out The Board Room in DuPont Circle. They have board games to rent (or often for free, depending on the day and time of your visit) or you can bring your own. The Board Room has a full-service bar, but no food - don’t worry, you can bring in any outside food you want. Check out the pizza shop next door for a quick slice that is perfectly portable for game night.
Fan of old architecture? D.C. is an excellent place to see all kinds of styles, but don’t miss a hidden gem - the National Cathedral. Though an active member of the Episcopal Church, the National Cathedral was dedicated as a place of religion, education, and charity open to all regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or class. Self-guided and Guided Tours are available for a fee. Oh, and be sure to take a glance up at the gargoyles on the exterior of the Cathedral - you might be surprised what you find up there.
For other classic film fans like Skye, attend a screening of limited showings of films from every decade over the last century at the American Film Institute branch in Silver Spring, Maryland. Partially built in a renovated theater, the AFI consistently has the best classic film programming in the DMV area. Don’t have a car? That’s okay - the AFI Silver Theater is easily accessible by catching the Metro Red Line to the Silver Spring station.
Also check out the schedule at the Mary Pickford Theater within the Madison building of the Library of Congress. Though they have less regular screenings than AFI, they nevertheless have excellent programming. The Library of Congress also has an audio-visual campus in Packard, VA where they often show classic films, but this one can be difficult to access without a car.
Maybe sports are your thing instead. D.C. has some great teams and venues. Skye’s particular favorites are the Washington Spirit and D.C. United (women’s and men’s soccer) and the Washington Capitals (hockey). The Spirit and D.C. United play at Audi Field in D.C.’s Buzzard Point neighborhood, and the Capitals play at Capital One Arena, just two blocks from the Unscripted Tours HQ in Penn Quarter (Washington’s NBA team the Wizards also play here).
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