Educational Trip To Washington DC For International Schools

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.

Any visit to Washington DC will involve a look at this iconic American building. The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States, recognized worldwide as a symbol of the prestige of the presidency. Built between 1792 and 1800, the sprawling 132-room mansion has been home to every President except George Washington. Groups are not able to visit the interior of the White House but they can visit the nearby visitors centre with a video and exhibits relating to the White House and First Families.

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.

The Smithsonian Institution – the world’s largest museum and research complex – includes 19 museums and galleries and a zoo. It’s dubbed ‘the nation’s attic’ for its eclectic holdings of 137m items. Take a museum tour or book activities from elephant baths at the zoo to tarantula feedings at Natural History or scavenger hunts at American Art.

Tip: The Smithsonian Museums are free of charge for school parties

Get your students reaching for the stars with a visit to the National Air and Space Museum. This celebration of all things airborne includes exhibits such as the 1903 Wright flyer right up to the Apollo Lunar Module. They can zoom through the cosmos at the Albert Einstein Planetarium, or experience a flight simulator, see an Imax show or take a guided tour.

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 on the grounds of Arlington House in Virginia. Since then, casualties and 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.

Tip: Don’t miss the elaborate Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

For any super-sleuths in your party, a visit to the International Spy Museum should reveal some interesting secrets. A huge collection of espionage artefacts illuminates the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions. Uncover the strategies and techniques of the people behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in history.

Rated amongst Trip Advisor’s “Top 10 Museums in the US”, the Newseum presents students with some of the biggest news stories in the US. Through a series of exhibits, interactive displays, workshops and archive footage, students will not only be able to learn more about the nation’s history but engage in its past. Party Leaders looking to tick off some extra educational elements for their students’ trip can book one of the Newseum’s free Educational Workshops. Differentiated for everyone from Primary to University level, the Media Literacy, Civics, History, and Virtual Classes can be supported by pre- and post-visit activities.