It’s a big year for America—she’s turning 250! To coincide with the country marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we’ve rounded up some destinations and attractions that are perfect for marking the occasion. Come along as we explore a variety of notable sites worth visiting—today and beyond.
A living-history museum and private foundation that presents a look into the historic district of Williamsburg, Virgina, Colonial Williamsburg is a can’t-miss spot on your student group’s itinerary. The museum’s 301 acres feature iconic sites, working tradespeople, historic taverns, and two world-class art museums. Students will be able to celebrate America250 by stepping into the capital of Virginia in the 18th century and walk along the same streets as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Patrick Henry. The museum is also celebrating an anniversary itself—100 years of being the world’s largest U.S. history museum. A new exhibit, Colonial Williamsburg: The First 100 Years, showcases more than 200 objects, including decorative art, folk art, and archival material.
As the "Birthplace of the American Revolution,” Boston was the epicenter of American resistance to British rule in country’s early days. Today, students could celebrate America250 with a trip along the Freedom Trail, following 18th-century costumed historians through more than two miles of a beautifully preserved historic section of Boston. Students will enjoy visiting 16 historically significant sites in American History, including museums, churches, meeting houses and burial grounds, each one an authentic and unique treasure. Along the way, they’ll learn about the country’s forefathers who shaped our nation and discover the story of the American Revolution, as it began in Boston—where every step tells a story. Don’t forget to visit historic stops like John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Quincy Market, and more.
You can’t think about America without also thinking about the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. It’s here that students can be immersed in all things historic, especially as America celebrates its 250th anniversary. Groups can get a glimpse of the Declaration of Independence, the nation’s founding document; experience monumental attractions on the National Mall, center stage for American history; engage with Indigenous stories from long before the United States was born; and more. Don’t forget to visit the Lincoln Memorial, International Spy Museum, and Holocaust Museum, in addition to surrounding areas of Alexandria—home to Mount Vernon, the Arlington National Cemetery, the US Marine Corps War Memorial, Airforce Memorial, and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
The birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia’s history makes itself known around almost every corner—whether it’s the iconic Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, the National Constitution Center, Elfreth's Alley (one of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the nation) or otherwise. Perhaps the centerpiece of the whole celebration is Independence Hall, where in 1776, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and delegates from the Thirteen Colonies signed the Declaration of Independence—a site students can visit themselves today.
Be sure to venture inside The Museum of the American Revolution for their exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, which celebrates the Declaration of Independence’s 250-year legacy and global influence on independence movements through rare artifacts and stories.
Contact ETI to plan your next student travel adventure today!
Courtesy of ETI.
