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Washington, D.C.

Discover Washington, D.C.: The Best of the Capital

Program No. 2833RJ

Discover D.C. through expert-led explorations of Capitol Hill, the memorials and topical issues. Plus, enjoy visits to historical institutions and a live show at a local theater!

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6 days

5 nights

12 meals

5B 3L 4D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Virginia

Tidal Basin, Kennedy Center, Embassy Row

Virginia

Hillwood Estates, National Cathedral, "Big Three" Memorials

Virginia

U.S. Capitol Building, Library of Congress

Virginia

Ford's Theater, Free Time, Theater Performance

Virginia

Lecture, Program Concludes

Virginia

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At a Glance

Experience the invigorating environment of America’s capital city as knowledgeable instructors immerse you in a wide-ranging exploration of Washington D.C.’s iconic memorials, eclectic neighborhoods and topical conversations. During lectures with D.C. experts, discuss policy issues, explore vital history, and learn about famous figures throughout the capital. Delight in an introduction to Washington’s vibrant cultural institutions as you venture into the Smithsonian Museums, Library of Congress, Kennedy Center, National Cathedral and attend a live performance at a local theater.

Activity Level

Keep the Pace

Walking 1-4 miles per day, including to/from motor coaches; some standing.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

Gain historical insights while visiting Washington’s most treasured monuments and its newest memorials.
Explore America’s unique political system with expert lectures and visits to the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress and the White House.
Go behind the scenes at the Kennedy Center and learn about the many extraordinary gifts from the governments of more than 60 countries that make this a truly international destination.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Donald Daniel

Donald C.F. Daniel is Professor Emeritus at Georgetown University and Milton E. Miles Professor Emeritus at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He was Special Assistant to the Chairman, US Intelligence Council in Washington; Ford Foundation Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington; Research Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London; researcher-in-residence for the UN Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva; and Associate Fellow at the Swedish National Defense College, Stockholm. He has directed political-military simulations involving participants worldwide.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Gayle Felix View biography

Gayle Felix has been a Road Scholar group leader since 2015. She grew up and raised her family outside of Boston and now resides in Hingham, Massachusetts. With a history/American studies degree from Boston University, she enjoys sharing the history of Boston and surrounding areas. Gayle has led programs in New England; Washington, DC; and other areas in the United States. Gayle enjoys being with her family and friends, biking, kayaking, golfing, and hiking. She especially enjoys traveling and meeting new people.

Akram Elias View biography

Akram R. Elias has been a Mason since 1996, when he was initiated into Freemasonry at Potomac Lodge No. 5, F.A.A.M. in Washington, D.C. Elias has been the head of several Masonic lodges in Washington, DC, and was installed as Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia on December 8, 2007, and completed his term in office on December 13, 2008. The Grand Master oversees all Masonic lodges within a Masonic jurisdiction.

Lili Murad View biography

Lili Murad knows firsthand the unique, life-changing moments that only travel can provide, whether it be building houses with Habit for Humanity in New Zealand, working at an eco-lodge in Costa Rica, or participating in a Bald Eagle field study project in Alaska. She made her first solo trip at the tender age of 9, and has since visited 30 countries and 29 U.S. states. In between adventures, she has put down deep roots in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Ronald Marks View biography

Ronald Marks was a CIA spy for 16 years in the struggle against Russian espionage operatives. He served as Congressional interlocutor for five CIA Directors and guided America’s intelligence interests for Senate leaders Bob Dole and Trent Lott. Ron has been a national security entrepreneur, spy raconteur, cyber expert, and international affair commentator. He is the author of “Spying in America in the Post 9/11 World: Domestic Threat and the Need for Change” that focuses on the challenges and legalities of U.S. domestic intelligence collection.

Steve Flynn View biography

Steve Flynn was raised in Oregon. He pursued graduate work in intercultural studies and has extensive experience leading educational groups for students and adults both within and outside the U.S. A current resident of Washington, D.C., he has spent his professional career working in international student exchange programs for the University of North Carolina system.

Donald Daniel View biography

Gautham Rao View biography

Gautham Rao, Associate Professor of History at American University, is Editor-in-Chief of “Law and History Review.” He did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Chicago and has been a fellow at the New York University School of Law and the University of Wisconsin Law School. His first book was “National Duties: Custom Houses and the Making of the American State” with the University of Chicago Press. His current book is “Slavery's Leviathan: Fugitive Slaves and the Making of the American Police State.”

Eric Arnesen View biography

Eric Arnesen is the Teamsters Professor of History at George Washington University. He earned his B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in African-American Studies and a Ph.D. in history from Yale University. A specialist in the history of race, labor, politics, and civil rights, he has written two award-winning books: “Brotherhoods of Color: Black Railroad Workers and the Struggle for Equality” (2001) and “Waterfront Workers of New Orleans: Race, Class, and Politics, 1863-1923” (1991). He has written, edited, or co-edited five other books.

Leigh Jameson View biography

Leigh Jameson is a Virginia native and local to the D.C. area for most of her life. She has over thirty-five years' experience as an actor and storyteller, and has served as a group leader throughout the East Coast. Over the past fifteen years, Leigh has worked with some of the most prestigious museums in the country, including the Smithsonian's American History Museum, Mount Vernon, and Colonial Williamsburg, and has two published guidebooks focused on this history.

Suggested Reading List (10 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Discover Washington, D.C.: The Best of the Capital

Program Number: 2833

A Garden for All Seasons: Marjorie Merriweather Post's Hillwood

by Kate Markert

A Garden for All Seasons captures Marjorie Post's garden landscape, set on twenty-five acres in Washington, DC. Working with prominent landscape architects Umberto Innocenti, Richard Webel, and Perry Wheeler, Post envisioned a setting with a diverse and fascinating array of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, offering something to see in every season.

Henry and Clara

by Thomas Mallon

On the evening of Good Friday, 1865, Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris joined the Lincolns in the Presidential box at Ford’s Theater, becoming eyewitnesses to one of the great tragedies of American history.

To Live on Lafayette Square: Society & Politics in the President's Neighborhood

by William Seale

This publication from historian William Seale details the rich history of what was once the most fashionable neighborhood in Washington - Lafayette Square. In its row houses and mansions live cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and many of the most memorable characters in the history of the nation. Presidents casually walked across the park in the middle of the Square to visit and talk politics with their neighbors. As in any neighborhood, there were friendships and romances, secrets and scandals.

The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration

by Ann McClellan

"No other city greets the advent of spring quite like the nation’s capital. The historic Tidal Basin at the edge of the Potomac River is at its most brilliant, decorated with hues of bright pink and white, as the magnificent cherry trees swathe the landscape with their glorious blooms to usher in the spring season. For more than 100 years, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has celebrated Japan’s grand gesture of international friendship that has made this exquisite springtime experience possible—the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, in 1912."

Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

by James L. Swanson

Based on rare archival materials, obscure trial transcripts, and Lincoln’s own blood relics Manhunt is a fully documented, fascinating tale of murder, intrigue, and betrayal. A gripping hour-by-hour account told through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters, it is history as it’s never been read before.

Lost in the City

by Edward P. Jones

A magnificent collection of short fiction focusing on the lives of African-American men and women in Washington, D.C., Lost in the City is the book that first brought author Edward P. Jones to national attention.

Murder at the National Cathedral

by Margaret Truman

Murder didn't stop Mac Smith or Annabel Reed from falling in love, or from getting married at the glorious church on the hill in Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral. But the brutal murder of a friend drags them from their newlywed bliss into an unholy web of intrigue and danger.

Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nation's Capital

by Elizabeth Rule

The first and fullest account of the suppressed history and continuing presence of Native Americans in Washington, DC.

Black Protest and the Great Migration: A Brief History with Documents

by Eric Arneson

Black Protest and the Great Migration chronicles the move of Southern African Americans into the urban North during World War I and into the 1920s, using a unique collection of articles from a variety of northern, southern, black, and white newspapers, magazines, and books to explore the impact of the Great Migration.

The White House: An Historic Guide

by White House Historical Association

Since 1962, the celebrated spaces and rich history of the President's House have been portrayed in this continually updated guidebook.

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At a Glance

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