Des na on Guide:
Washington
Contents Click below to jump straight to your subject area
History & Poli cs Arlington Na onal Cemetery Ford’s Theatre Museum Mon cello (Jefferson’s House) Mount Vernon (George Washington’s Home) Ge*ysburg Na onal Park Woodrow Wilson House Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Na onal Archives Experience Supreme Court The Pentagon US Capitol White House Visitor Center Na onal Museum of African American History & Culture
Memorials FDR Memorial Lincoln Memorial Mar n Luther King Memorial Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Korean War Veterans Memorial US Marine Corps Memorial
Art & Design ....3 ....3 ....3 ....3 ....3 ....3
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Na onal Gallery of Art Na onal Portrait Gallery Smithsonian American Art Museum Phillips Collec on Freer Gallery of Art
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Regional Highlights Sightseeing Tour of Washington Smithsonian Na onal Air & Space Museum Bureau of Engraving and Prin ng Newseum Madame Tussauds Washington D.C
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Spor ng Fixture Tickets Union Sta on Historic Tour Day Trip to New York
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Restaurants
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History & Poli cs Arlington Na onal Cemetery www.arlingtoncemetery.org America’s largest na onal burial ground which was built during the Civil War. Among the thousands of white headstones are the graves of President John F Kennedy and the Tomb of the Un‐ knowns. The site s ll averages 5000 funerals a year and a*racts 4 million visitors. Ford’s Theatre Museum www.fords.org The Ford’s Theatre is where President Lincoln was shot whilst watching the comedy ‘Our American Cousin’. The theatre is decorated in the style of that day and the museum’s permanent exhibit highlights Lincoln’s role in preserving America’s pioneering effort in self government. Exhibits include a 5 minute film, le*ers from the period, and artefact’s which trace his path to presiden al elec on. Mon cello (Jefferson’s House) www.mon cello.org This domed hill top mansion was the home of the third president Thomas Jefferson. Mon cello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson, designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years. Jefferson, who died 50 years to the day aAer his Declara on of Independence was adopted, is buried in the nearby family cemetery.
Free admission. Guide recommended Open daily: April—September 08:00– 19:00 October—March 08:00– 17:00
Booking Fee of £3.80 per person Advanced group (15+) reserva7ons required online Open daily 09:00– 16:30
Free to visit grounds Payable to enter: $26 for adults $17 for students Guide recommended 0830– 1800 seasonal hours may apply Allow at least 2 hours to visit
Mount Vernon (George Washington’s Home) www.mountvernon.org
£14.20 per person group rate Guide recommended
Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington from the me of their marriage in 1759 un l General Washington’s death in 1799. Stretching over 500 open acres over‐ looking the Potomac River, just 16 miles from Washington D.C the mansion houses the tomb of George Washington, 2 museums, giA shop & gardens.
April-October: 09:00-17:00 November-March: 09:00-16:00
Ge%ysburg Na onal Military Park www.nps.gov
School groups £14.30pp (including guide) Coach required
The Ba*le of Ge*ysburg was fought between the Union and Con‐ federate armies during the Civil War. President Lincoln used the dedica on ceremony for the Ge*ysburg Na onal Cemetery to honor the fallen Union soldiers and redefine the purpose of the war in his historic Ge*ysburg Address. Woodrow Wilson House www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org
April– October open 0800– 1800 November– March open 0900– 1700
Adults $10 Students $5 Group tour by appointment
Washington DC’s only presiden al museum. The former home of President Woodrow Wilson and Edith Wilson following their White House years features original furnishings, presiden al memorabilia and changing special exhibits.
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History & Poli cs United States Holocaust Memorial Museum www.ushmm.org This sombre and moving museum tells the story of the holocaust through artefacts, films, photos and oral histories. There is also a Hall of Remembrance, Wall of Remembrance and special exhibits.
Free admission Timed passes are required and must be pre booked at a cost of £1.30pp advanced booking fee Open daily 1000– 1720
Na onal Archives Experience www.archives.gov
Free admission, must be pre booked at a cost of £1.50pp advanced booking fee
A vast collec on of America’s important documents, maps, photos, recordings, films and objects. Famous items include the gun that shot JFK, the Watergate Tapes and the Declara on of Independence.
Open daily 1000– 1730
Supreme Court www.supremecourtus.gov The home of the ul mate judicial and cons tu onal authority where the nine court jus ces hear around 100 of the 7,000 cases submi*ed to the court each year. When court is in session from October to April, visitors can see cases being argued on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1000– 1500. Visitors can either listen to the whole argument or can go to one of the three‐minute slots, which gives a quick glimpse of the court in ac on.
Free admission Pre-booking is not possible
The Pentagon www.pentagontours.osd.mil
Free admission—Schools must book direct Tours last approx. 1 hour
The headquarters to the Department of Defence, the Pentagon is virtually a city in itself. Approximately 23,000 employees, both military and civilian, contribute to the planning and execu on of the defence of the USA.
Open weekdays: Monday-Thursday: 10:00-16:00 Friday: 12:00-16:00
US Capitol www.visi*hecapitol.gov
Free admission, but tour passes are required Advance booking necessary
The United States Capitol house the mee ng chambers of the Sen‐ ate and the House of Representa ves. Since 1793, it has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended and restored. Today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American peo‐ ple and their government.
Open: Monday-Saturday 08:30– 16:30
White House Visitor Centre
Free admission
Foreign na onals can visit the White House. Schools must apply via the embassy.. The White House visitor centre contains photos, costumes and artefacts which depict the history of the presiden al residence.
Open daily: 07:30— 16:00
Na onal Museum of African American History & Culture www.nmaahc.si.edu/
Free 7med entry passes required
Guided tours 0945 Monday—Friday Allow 90 minutes
Open: 09:00-16:30 Tours for schools are also offered on days where court is not in session for 60 or 90 minutes
Open Daily: 10:00-17:30 The museum aims to place themes of American history within the context of the African American experience, exploring the rich‐ ness and diversity of the culture and how it has shape the na on. Collec ons will cover the Revolu onary era to the present with a focus on the history of the Civil Rights Movement. 4
Memorials FDR Memorial www.nps.gov/frde
FREE Open 24 hours a day
A 7.5 acre site near the Jefferson Memorial, this memorial depicts the 12 pivotal years of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency through a series of four outdoor gallery rooms. The room’s feature ten bronze sculptures depic ng President Roosevelt, Eleanor Roo‐ sevelt and events from the Great Depression and World War II.
Rangers on duty to answer any ques7ons between 09:30– 22:00
Lincoln Memorial h*p://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
FREE Open daily
The Lincoln Memorial was built to honour the 16th President of the United States. In front is the Reflec ng Pool which is part of the iconic image of Washington and was the site of Mar n Luther King’s speech ‘I Had a Dream’ which was a*ended by 250,000 peo‐ ple Mar n Luther King Memorial www.nps.gov/mlkm
FREE Open daily
Located on one of the most pres gious sites remaining on the Na‐ onal Mall, the memorial to Dr Mar n Luther King is the first ma‐ jor memorial to be dedicated to an African‐American, and to a non ‐president. The Memorial conveys three themes that were central throughout Dr. King’s life – democracy, jus ce, and hope. The centerpiece being a 30‐foot statue of Dr. King, gazing into the hori‐ zon. Vietnam Veterans Memorial www.nps.gov/vive
FREE Open 24 hours and lit at night
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a na onal memorial in Washington, D.C. It honors U.S. service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War, service members who died in service in Vietnam/South East Asia, and those service members who were missing in ac on during the War .
Rangers on duty to answer any ques7ons between 09:30– 22:00
Korean War Veterans Memorial www.nps.gov/kowa
FREE Open 24 hours a day
Built by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory at a cost of 18 million dollars, this site feature’s a sculptured column of 19‐ foot soldiers arrayed for combat with the American flag as their symbolic objec ve. A 164‐foot mural wall in inscribed with the words “Freedom is Not Free”. US Marine Corps Memorial h*p://www.nps.gov/gwmp/historyculture/usmcwarmemorial.htm The memorial is dedicated to all personnel of the United States Marine Corps who have died in the defence of the United States since 1775.
FREE Open daily Open 06:00—Midnight During the Summer Sunset parades are held on Tuesday evenings
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Art & Design Na onal Gallery of Art Www.nga.gov The Na onal Gallery of Art is a world‐class art museum that displays one of the largest collec ons of masterpieces in the world including pain ngs, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and decora ve arts from the 13th century to the present. Na onal Portrait Gallery www.npg.si.edu
Free admission, Open Daily Mon—Sat 1000– 1700 Sunday 1100– 1800 Guided tours free of charge, reserva7on required
Free admission Open daily 1130– 1900
The Na onal Portrait Gallery tells the stories of America through the individuals who established American culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts, and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and ac vists. The museum’s collec on of nearly 20,000 works ranges from pain ngs and sculpture to photographs and drawings Smithsonian American Art Museum www.americanart.si.edu
Free admission Open daily 1130– 1900
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the home of the largest collec on of American art in the world including more than 41,000 artworks, spanning more than three centuries. Phillips Collec on www.phillipscollec on.org America’s first museum of modern art was opened as a gallery in the 1920’s. It features Renoir’s “Luncheon of the Boa ng Party” which is the keystone of the works here but also exhibited are works by Cezanne, Braque, Monet, Ma sse, O’Keeffe and Picasso.
Freer Gallery of Art www.asia.si.edu
Adults $12 Students $10 Guided visits available on request Tues-Sat: 10:00-17:00 Sun: 12:00-18:30
Free admission Open daily 1000– 1730
An outstanding collec on of Asian art, plus works by 19th and 20th century American ar sts. The opulent Peacock Room is the only surviving example of American expatriate James McNeill Whistler’s interior design.
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Regional Highlights Sightseeing Tour of Washington
Available on request
A sightseeing tour of Washington will offer your group the opportunity to see the city’s main a*rac ons. A professional, experienced, English‐speaking guide will give an insight into the history and culture of the city and will be able to answer any ques ons you may have. Smithsonian www.si.edu
Free admission Opening hours vary
The Smithsonian Ins tute was established in 1846 and is a group of museums and research centres. It includes the Air and Space Museum, Free Gallery of Art, American History Museum and the American Art Museum. Please consult the website for the museum most relevant to your subject area. Na onal Air & Space Museum www.airandspace.si.edu
Free admission Open daily 10:00—17:30
The world’s most visited museum houses the Wright Brother’s 1903 Flyer, Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis, Apollo 11 lunar command module and an incredible collec on of avia on and space technology treasures. You can even buy freeze dried space food in the giA shop! Bureau of Engraving and Prin ng www.moneyfactory.gov As the U.S. Government’s security printer, the BEP is responsible for the design, engraving and prin ng of all U.S. paper currency. A world leader in prin ng technology, the Bureau also produces postage stamps, White House invita ons, Treasury obliga ons and other U.S. securi es. During a tour of the BEP, you will see millions of dollars being printed. Newseum www.newseum.org The Newseum is a six‐level, high‐tech and interac ve museum tracing the history of news repor ng from the 16th century to the present day. It houses 15 theatres, 14 major galleries, two state‐of‐the‐art broadcast studios and a 4‐D me‐travel experience. The exhibi on galleries explore news history, electronic news, photojournalism, world news and how the media have covered major historical events. Madame Tussauds Washington D.C www.madametussaudsdc.com
Guided tour for groups to be booked in advance. Register online
Free admission Available Monday—Friday 11:00—12:15 (tours run every 15mins) Groups of 10+, maximum 50 per group Groups must register prior to visit
Admission: £16.10pp Open Daily: Monday—Saturday 09:00—17:00 Sunday 09:00—16:00 Guided tours available.
Admission : £27.80pp Groups 10+ advance booking rate $14.50
Madame Tussauds opened its doors in October 2007 hos ng many exci ng new experiences. The fully interac ve a*rac on features exhibits such as “Behind the scenes”, where visitors can learn about the trade secrets used to create the wax figures. It pays homage to some of the most influen al poli cal figures in U.S. history from Presidents and First Ladies to ac vists and assassins.
Open daily 10:00—20:00
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Spor ng Event Tickets www.nba.com/wizards www.na onals.mlb.com www.washingtoncaps.com
Sports 7ckets range anywhere between $50 to $150 per 7cket (dependant on the profile of the teams, season and availability)
Tickets can be arranged to Basketball, Ice Hockey and Baseball Matches.
Available only on request, please contact us for details.
Union Sta on Historic Tour
£16 per person
One of Washington’s busiest and best known places is visited by 40 million people each year. .Tours can be customised to cover the great history of the building, it’s architecture and how it has been restored to preserve it as a na onal treasure. Tour includes a food voucher for the Sta on’s food court. There are a wide variety of op ons to suit everyone and a sparkling clean dining environment
Minimum group size 20
Day Trip to New York
Available on request
As part of the cost, a $10 Food Voucher is included, which can be used at over 15 food outlets in Union Sta7on, and the menus of what they are offering as part of the program will be listed.
New York is approximately three and a half hour drive from Washington. A day trip to the Big Apple will give groups the chance to take in some of the major city sights and a*rac ons including the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty as well as some of the best museums and art galleries in the world. Consider a two centre trip to allow students extended me in each city.
Restaurants Buca di Beppo, Italian and banquet restaurant. From delicious Italian cuisine to the fun atmosphere, Buca di Bepo know how to have a good me! In the spirit of Italian culture, dishes are served family‐style, meant to be shared by everyone on the table.
The Hard Rock Cafe offers authen c American Cuisine and one of the largest, most Valued collec ons of rock n’ roll memorabilia in the world.
Bens Chilli Bowl has been trading since 1958. The counter, booths and stools are all original; the fresh homemade chili is s ll made with love, using the same secret recipe. Choose from a 2 or 3 course meal.
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