You and your student group will spend three days in thrilling Washington, D.C., and one day - and a spooky night - in historic Williamsburg. This well-planned and delightful educational tour will allow you to explore the history and government of the United States; you’ll discover how our great nation came to be, and how it operates today. You’ll enjoy some pretty spectacular sights, too - including our Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Mt. Vernon – the home of George Washington - and the Iwo Jima Memorial.
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Colonial Williamsburg Tour
Colonial Williamsburg sprawls over 301 acres – you’ll see authentic 18th-century structures and hundreds of stately homes, charming shops and public outbuildings that have been meticulously reconstructed on their original foundations. Centuries fall away as affable character guides lead your student travel group thru garden gates, quiet courtyards, and shadowy doorways; can you hear the rattle of wagon wheels on cobblestone or the contented cluck of a Colonial hen? Do you smell the coal smoke and start, just a bit, a blacksmith’s hammer meets cast anvil, forging a shoe for a patriot’s faithful steed? This tour of Colonial Williamsburg is a fantastic way to kick off your student group’s amazing 3-day educational excursion!
The Original Ghosts of Williamsburg Tour
The family-friendly Original Ghosts of Williamsburg Candlelight Tour has been treating guests to their special brand of delightfully frightening evening entertainment for nigh onto a quarter century! The tour company bases their popular evening outings on acclaimed author L.B. Taylor’s “The Ghosts of Williamsburg”; expert storytellers neatly weave nearly a dozen of his exclusive tales into the fabric of a perfectly spooky-yet-informative stroll through the darkened streets of Colonial Williamsburg. P.S.: Don’t forget your cameras!
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Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library containing more than 128 million items including books, manuscripts, films, photographs, sheet music, and maps. As part of the legislative branch of government, the Library houses several internal divisions, including the Office of the Librarian, U.S. Copyright Office, Law Library of Congress, Library Services, and the Office of Strategic Initiatives. Visitors flock year-round to partake of its wonderful exhibitions, interactive displays, concerts, films, lectures, and special events.
Capitol Hill Tour
Your students’ visit to Washington, D.C. would not be complete without a tour of our legislative and judicial branches. In addition to the Library of Congress, you will see the magnificent Capitol and Supreme Court Buildings, the breathtaking Jefferson Building and the stunning U.S. Botanic Garden/Conservatory.
National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration stores and provides public access to the original documents that set up the American government as a democracy in 1774; the records of the nation's civil, military and diplomatic activities are also held here for present and future generations. Guests are transported on a dramatic and fascinating journey through time, with an opportunity to view the United States Government's Charters of Freedom, the U. S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. This experience deserves a slot on every D.C. student trip!
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Arlington National Cemetery
You’ll recognize Arlington National Cemetery by the remarkably uniform white headstones spanning the 600+ manicured acres that mark the graves of more than 400,000 soldiers laid to rest here. The cemetery is one of the most popular attractions among student groups exploring Washington, D.C. - its rich history and beautiful setting make it a perfect place for remembering, for reflection, and for honoring US soldiers past and present. John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft are buried here.
JFK Grave Site Memorial
John F. Kennedy was the youngest man ever elected to the highest office in the United States. A former naval officer and WWII war hero, he is credited with saving the lives of his crew during an attack on their torpedo boat by a Japanese cruiser. President John F. Kennedy made his first formal visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1961, to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Eleven days prior to his assassination he returned for the 1963 Armistice Day services. While there, he had remarked that the view of D.C. from the cemetery was so incredible, he could stay there forever. He made his final trip to Arlington at the behest of the First Lady, where his gravesite is evermore accessible to the American people, and marked by an eternal flame. She now lies beside him. Only one other American President – William Howard Taft – is buried at Arlington.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
High on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C., you will find the world-renowned Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Here, you and your student group will witness the breathtaking precision of the changing of the guard; the tomb is protected 24 hours a day. Buried in it are the remains of unidentified soldiers from nearly all U.S. wars and conflicts; their medals of honor and the flags that covered their caskets are located in the amphitheater below.
Iwo Jima Memorial
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial - better known as the Iwo Jima Memorial - depicts one of the most historic battles of World War II. The memorial, dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in battle, is sculptor Felix de Weldon’s recreation of an actual shot captured by news photographer Joe Rosenthal of 6 brave, young soldiers – five Marines and one Navy corpsman- raising the 2nd American flag planted on Mount Suribachi. Only three survived.
Ford’s Theatre
Ford’s Theatre was once a place of worship, constructed in 1833 as the second meeting house of the First Baptist Church of Washington. John T. Ford bought the former church and renovated it into a theatre, which he first called Ford's Athenaeum. It was destroyed by fire in 1862, and was rebuilt the following year with seating for 2400. Five short days after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, President Abraham Lincoln and his wife were enjoying a performance of Our American Cousin at this infamous venue; notorious actor John Wilkes Booth, desperate to aid the dying Confederacy, stepped into the box where the presidential party was seated and shot Lincoln, who passed away the next morning at Peterson House, just across the street. As a living tribute to President Abraham Lincoln’s love of the performing arts, Ford’s Theatre presents wonderful plays and musicals underscoring multiculturalism and highlighting the eclectic character of American life.
Monuments and Memorials Tour
This walkabout gets you around to all of the monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C., each truly unique and important in its own right. Your “monumental” excursion kicks off at the White House and continues through the National Mall, along the Reflecting Pool, around the Tidal Basin, and eventually wraps up at the US Capitol Building and Supreme Court.
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Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is an iconic American landmark and an enduring reminder of the life and legacy of the Father of Our Country – a successful Virginia gentleman planter and entrepreneur - and ultimately the leader of a fledgling democratic nation. What was once a simple one and a half-story farmhouse evolved into a grand home and prosperous plantation; First President George Washington’s estate is now one of the nation’s most visited historic sites. You and your student group will enjoy a tour of his authentically interpreted 18th-century home set on lush gardens and grounds, explore intriguing museum galleries, see Washington’s tomb, his progressive four-acre Pioneer Farm, a painstakingly reproduced working gristmill and distillery and experience first-rate dining and shopping while visiting this incomparable national treasure!
Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall
The National Mall is the pivotal point of most sightseeing visits to Washington, D.C.; the tree-lined open space between Constitution and Independence Avenues unrolls all the way from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol Building. Ten of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution are located right here, showcasing a variety of exhibits ranging from fine art to space exploration. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely picnic and ideal outdoor festival venue; champions of countless causes, gritty young eco-warriors and hip movers and shakers, alike have staged all manner of energetic protests and rallies on its expansive lawn.