School History Trip To Washington DC

Meeting place of The Senate and the House of Representatives, The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. Guided tours here begin with a short film and include stops at the Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. The Exhibition Hall displays documents, artifacts, and interactive exhibits.

Students can visit the courtroom, with its velvet drapes and marble pillars, where the nine court justices hear some of the 6,500 cases submitted to the Supreme Court each year. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with nearly 128 million items, including historically significant manuscripts on around 530 miles of bookshelves.

Part of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum in Washington DC is one of three dedicated to the life, languages, literature, history, and arts of the Native Americans of the Western Hemisphere. The museum’s sweeping, limestone-clad architecture, its indigenous landscaping, and its exhibitions give students the sense and spirit of Native America.

Students can take a tour through the history of the colorful US nation at the National Museum of American History. The museum holds more than three million artefacts – all true national treasures. They include the original Star-Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln’s top hat, Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

A living memorial to the Holocaust, this museum provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history. It aims to inspire visitors to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. It gives a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress and the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values.

Visit some of the monuments that honour those who helped shape the US nation. The Washington Monument is a towering 555-feet high marble obelisk, The Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of freedom, the Martin Luther King Jnr Monument promotes love and tolerance, while monuments to the Vietnam War, the Korean War, World War II commemorate those that died.

This military cemetery was established during the Civil War, and since then deceased veterans of America’s conflicts have been buried here, and their white headstones stretch out over 624 acres or rolling hills. A tour here can bring the military history of the United States to life. Don’t miss the elaborate Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The plantation home of the first President of the United States, George Washington, lies just 16 miles south of Washington DC and is perfect for a day trip. Students can visit the Mansion, Washington’s Tomb, the plantation and estate, which includes a 4-acre demonstration farm.

Tip: Head to The Ford Orientation Center for exhibitions on George Washington’s life.

The Union victory at The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. It was also the war’s bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties. Students can tour the battlefield and explore the significant sites of this dramatic event. There’s also a museum and visitor centre to gain background knowledge on the Civil War, and free ranger-guided programmes.

The National Archives in DC provides students with a unique opportunity to access the original documents that founded American democracy in 1774. View the US Government’s Charter of Freedom, the US Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence.

Featuring over 36,000 artefacts, the museum is dedicated to documenting African American life, history, and culture. Students will have access to a range of interactive exhibitions, explore what it means to be American, and understand how American values are reflected in African American culture.