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Washington DC History School Trips & Tours - Political History

The US capital city is home to many excellent museums, educational visits and sites to give your pupils an invaluable insight into American history and how the country has evolved: the USA in the 'roaring Twenties', the impact of WW2, Vietnam and the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement and superpower relations.

Washington DC is a great place for your pupils to learn about American politics. Take a history school trip to the capital city to give your pupils access to politics and history in action. When you book your study tour with NST, we'll arrange for your group to take a variety of walking tours with local guides, as well as other fascinating historical and educational visits, ensuring that your group get the very most from their experience. 

Alternatively, view the rest of our school trips to the USA.

Prices start from£1179pp

Price Shown includes

  • 3 nights’ room only accommodation
  • Return flights and overseas airport transfers
  • Extensive group travel insurance
  • 1 in 10 free place ratio

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from a London airport and is subject to availability.


On-tour support

On-tour support includes...

  • Airport assistance during check-in, security and gate checks on your outbound flight from the UK
  • Airport assistance when you arrive back at your UK airport when you book a coach transfer to take you home

Additional on-tour support available...

  • Pre-booked meals at great group prices
  • Services of a Local Guide

Accommodation

Popular options in Washington


Top visits

Walking Tour - Political Sites

Half day tour with a local guide covering externally all the major government buildings:

  • Pennsylvania Avenue
  • The US Capitol (the Senate, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, Library of Congress)
  • The Mall
  • George Washington Monument

Walking Tour - Historical Sites

Half day tour with a local guide covering all the major historical sites and monuments:

  • Jefferson Memorial
  • FDR Memorial
  • Korean War Veterans Memorial
  • Arlington National Cemetery
  • Lincoln Memorial
  • Vietnam Memorial
  • WWII Memorial
  • The White House (exterior)

US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Explaining the story of the Holocaust in a uniquely and immensely thought provoking manner, students will never forget a visit to this museum.

Arlington National Cemetery

The history of this cemetery, the largest military graveyard in the world reflects the conflicts and struggles faced by the American people. Graves here include those from the Civil War, and both World Wars and the eternal flame burning by the grave of JFK.

National Museum of American History

Traces the country’s development in an entertaining and fairly lighthearted manner.

Lincoln Memorial Steps

Stand on the site of Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech during the defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement in America.

FDR Memorial

This park traces 12 years of the history of the US using a sequence of outdoor rooms; one for each of Roosevelt’s terms of office. Sculptures and murals depict scenes from the Depression enabling you to stand in the ‘Breadline’.

The National Archives

Displays the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Visits to the Public Vaults display original records and new interactive exhibits that allow you to touch and explore interesting documents. Key topics that can be studied here are Civil War, Civil Rights, Cold War, McCarthyism.

National Air & Space Museum

Discover the history of America’s aeronautical industry, from the Wright Brothers’ first flyer in 1903, to the Apollo 11 command module. An ideal visit to cover the Cold War and the Space Race.

Mount Vernon

An ideal visit en route to the airport, from the Mansion House to the Slave Quarters the plantation home of George Washington gives you the opportunity to see how the first President of the United States lived.

Smithsonian Institute

America’s national educational facility with 19 museums including:

  • National Museum of Natural History
  • National Portrait Gallery. 

The Smithsonian Institute museums are free.

 

Ford's Theatre

Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Ford’s Theatre Museum - explore Lincoln's presidency from his arrival in Washington to the very minute he arrived at Ford's Theatre on the fateful night of April 14, 1865. You will see rare artefacts related to the assassination.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artefacts and is the 19th museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

Scary DC Ghost Walk

Scary DC is Washington District of Columbia’s most haunted ghost tour. Let us see if we can scare you with stories of ghosts,  haunted places, and mysterious sightings of apparitions. Listen to the ghostly encounters of our guides to see that the supernatural phenomena of Washington, DC are alive and well. Our tales and legends are blended with bits of human interest and historical fact to make us entertaining and educational for all ages and you may even be surprised by ghost stories told by participants on our tours.. Visit the world’s most haunted capital city: Washington, DC.


Study themes

GCSE

 

Edexcel

"British America, 1713-1783"

"The American West, c1835-1895"

"The USA, 1954-1975: conflict at home and abroad"

 

AQA

"America, 1840-1895"

"America, 1920-1973"

 

OCR History A

"The USA, 1919-1948"

"The USA, 1945-1974"

 

OCR History B

"The Making of America, 1789-1992"

 

EDUCAS (WJEC)

"The USA: A Nation of Contrasts, 1910-1929"

"The Development of the USA, 1929-2000"

 

A Level

 

Edexcel

"1F - In search of the American Dream: the USA, c1917-1996"

"2H.1 - The USA, c1920-1955: boom, bust and recovery"

"2H.2 - The USA, 1955-1992: conformity and challenge"

"39.1 - Civil rights and race relations in the USA, 1850-2009"

 

AQA

"1K - The Making of a Superpower: USA, 1865-1975"

"2G - The Birth of the USA, 1760-1801"

"2J - America: A Nation Divided, c1845-1877"

"2Q - The American Dream: reality and illusion, 1945-1980"

 

OCR

"The American Revolution, 1740-1796"

"The USA in the 19th Century: Westward expansion and Civil War, 1803-c1890"

"Civil Rights in the USA, 1865-1992"


Study levels

A-Level

AS Level

GCSE


Transport

We can arrange for your group to fly from a range of UK airports and we’ll work with you to plan your route at the best value possible.

Flight


Giving you full support throughout

Before your tour

  • Your own dedicated NST contact
  • Bespoke tour itineraries
  • Unrivalled local knowledge & expertise
  • Curriculum linked visit programmes
  • Great value for money - no hidden costs
  • Free group leader inspection visits
  • Risk assessment guidance
  • Safety assured, transport, accommodation and visits

Whilst you're away

  • Free educational resources
  • Group-friendly accommodation
  • Exceptional standards of coaching
  • On-tour support from our reps on the ground
  • Support & assistance from our specialists throughout your tour
  • 24/7 support just a call away
  • Extensive group travel insurance

On your return

  • Priority rebooking services
  • Rewarding your loyalty with our reward scheme
  • You say, we listen - we're committed to continuously improving our tours
  • School travel company of choice since 1967