Monumental D.C.

Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Your program materials will be sent to you a few days before the program, digitally, through your roadscholar.org account. This includes your program itinerary, any related handouts, and restaurant/free time suggestions. Please plan to print them out and bring along to the program, utilize the hotel's business center to access them, or view them on your own personal electronic device. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. At the hotel, we’ll attend a seminar focusing on future development and preservation of the National Mall and other areas in the Washington, D.C. area. We will learn about memorials still in the planning process. We’ll hear from representatives of entities endeavoring to preserve our current memorials, plan our future monuments, protect our civic space, and manage the region's growth.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will travel south by motorcoach to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Maintained as a memorial to our nation's first President by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, the estate provides insights into Washington's life as a pioneering farmer, entrepreneurial businessman, fearless soldier, and unconventional leader.

At Mount Vernon Inn.

Next, we will head into the heart of Washington, D.C. by motorcoach to visit one of the city's most popular museums. Here we will explore the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum at our own pace. This experience is a living memorial that inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, promote human dignity, and prevent genocide.

At a local restaurant

Back on the motorcoach, we will go on an exploration of Washington, D.C. including a visit to the neighborhood surrounding the White House, the epicenter of Executive Branch power in Washington, D.C. We will learn about the mansion's beginnings, history and present day uses.

At the hotel.

Heading out on the motorcoach, we will start our morning with a visit to the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. Offering a commanding view of the Capital's monumental core from the Virginia side of the Potomac River, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial – more popularly known as the Iwo Jima Memorial – honors those who have served as Marines going back to the beginnings of our nation. Following this quick stop, we will then go on an extended visit to Arlington National Cemetery. On these hallowed grounds, we will visit the grave of President John F. Kennedy, witness the solemn changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns and visit Arlington House, once home to Confederate General Robert E. Lee and descendants of the Washington family. Due to the amount of walking involved and the topography of Arlington National Cemetery, participants will travel through the site via motorized tram service. Next, we will make our way to the U.S. Air Force Memorial. One of the newer additions to the D.C. Memorials, the U.S. Air Force Memorial adds a modern element to the D.C. area's skyline. At 227 feet tall, it evokes a feeling of flight while honoring the service given by the men and women of the U.S. Air Force.

At a restaurant in Capitol Hill.

We will visit one more memorial for today, and it is the newest in Washington, D.C.! The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial was opened in September 2020 and features life-sized statues, inscriptions of Eisenhower's own words, and a 447-foot-long tapestry that features the Pointe du Hoc promontory of France’s Normandy coastline during peacetime. Following this visit, the remainder of the day will be on our own. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Thanks to numerous books and movies, many people know of Masons but relatively few know exactly who they are and what they believe. There are also many myths, legends, and mysteries surrounding the role of Masons in the founding of the United States. Dan Brown’s bestselling novel “The Lost Symbol” — set in Washington, D.C. — blended Masonic history into his fantastic story. At the hotel, we’ll be joined by a 33rd Degree Mason who will help us separate fact and fiction as we examine the influence of Masonic teachings on our nation's founders, and learn about Masonic symbols throughout the city.

At a local restaurant.

By motorcoach, we will visit what are locally known as the “Big 3”. We’ll explore Abraham Lincoln's life, principles, and civil war presidency at the Lincoln Memorial on the west end of the National Mall. We’ll examine America's cold war history through the prism of the Korean War Veterans Memorial and reflect on the tragic consequences of U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We will then head over to the National World War II Memorial, where we’ll learn about America's struggle against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan at the dawn of the age of weapons of mass destruction. Many enjoy visiting this site at night when the memorial's lights and water fountains give it a more majestic appearance.

At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Heading back out on the motorcoach, we’ll spend our last night in D.C. visiting the Tidal Basin as the lights illuminate these memorials. We will learn about Thomas Jefferson's role in crafting the Declaration of Independence, forming a more perfect union and expanding America during a visit to the Jefferson Memorial near the tidal basin. We will then explore the tumultuous period in American history that paralleled Franklin Roosevelt's 12 years as President of the United States at the FDR Memorial in West Potomac Park. From challenging conventional thinking about the role of the federal government in the nation's economy to confronting the evils of fascism, Roosevelt led America in trying times. The FDR Memorial – a series of outdoor rooms in a park setting – memorializes the nation's efforts to overcome the Great Depression at home and defeat tyranny around the world. Our last monument will bring us up to the Civil Rights Movement as we visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, which was dedicated in 2011, on the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington. We will learn about the civil rights leader and his pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African American citizens. Upon our return to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel.

This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!