Washington D.C. and Gettysburg: Iconic People and Places in Our Nation's History - 4 Days

When you arrive in Washington D.C. you'll meet your Tour Manager and head to the Museum of Natural History. This museum is the most visited natural history museum in the world. Its collections total over 126 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, and human cultural artifacts.

You'll next visit the National Archives and see the rotunda where some of our most important documents are stored. You'll see an original copy of the U.S. Constitution and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence as well as many other important documents.

The final stop for the day will be the National Air & Space Museum, the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world.  The exhibits in the museum house artifacts including airplanes, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, engines, propellers, models, uniforms, instruments, and flight equipment.

You'll have dinner and head back to the hotel to rest for the exciting days ahead.

After breakfast, you'll board your bus and drive to Gettysburg.

You'll arrive at the Gettysburg Visitor Center. The Cyclorama, Film and Museum Experience at the center includes the film narrated by Morgan Freeman, "A New Birth of Freedom" (sponsored by The History Channel); the massive Cyclorama painting, which literally surrounds visitors with a magnificant visual of the fury of Pickett’s Charge, and the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, featuring 12 exhibit galleries that contain artifacts and interactive displays.

You'll take a two hour guided tour of the battelfields. Fought during the first three days of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War having occurred at a time when the fate of the nation literally hung in the balance.

After lunch, you'll see a performance of "A Visit With Mr. Lincoln" where an actor and historian will speak to your group as Mr. Lincoln. You'll hear a monologue and then have an chance to ask questions.

This evening you'll drive back to D.C. and before dinner you'll take a guided tour of the Memorials including visits to the FDR Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

After dinner, you'll continue your guided tour of the memorials and visit the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

This morning after breakfast, you'll visit Arlington National Cemetery where you will take a tour of the largest military cemetery in our country Here you'll see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, the Challenger Memorial and the Kennedy Gravesites.

Next, you'll visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This is the largest Roman Catholic church in North America and one of the largest churches in the world. Though it is distinctly American, it rivals some of the great sanctuaries of Europe. You then attend a mass at the Basilica (when available).

After lunch, you'll visit the Capitol Building where you will see the visitors center and exhibits about the legislative branch of our government. You'll then see a short film about the Capitol before taking a guided tour into the rotunda.

You'll enter one of the most magnificent buildings in Washington as you visit the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill. You'll have some time to admire the architecture and peek into the main reading room.

Next, you'll visit the Supreme Court. If time permits and lectures are available, you may see a 25 minute docent lecture in the court room about the judicial branch of our government and the role of the Supreme Court.

You will have a chance to see and take pictures of the North Front of the White House from Lafayette Park before dinner and returning to your hotel for the evening.

You'll take a DJ/Dinner Cruise on the Potomac River.

After breakfast, you'll visit Mt. Vernon, home and gardens of our first president, George Washington. You will have time to see a film at the visitors center, tour the home and explore the grounds.

Your Washington D.C. trip will come to a close as you depart on your return trip home.