Washington DC

High School Program

Washington D.C., the epicenter of American history and culture, provides an immersive journey through iconic museums, monuments, and memorials. This program offers students a deep dive into the essence of the United States and its enduring narrative.

American History and Culture

Washington D.C. the capital city of the United States, is a captivating metropolis that stands as a symbol of democracy, history, and power. Additionally, Washington D.C. offers a diverse and vibrant cultural scene, with world-class museums, galleries, and theaters, showcasing art, history, and innovation. Our Washington D.C. program offers a mix of experiences to explore American history and culture. Get ready to dive into the rich history of this iconic city that embodies the essence of the United States.


About Washington DC

It would be a challenge to find a corner of the world that has not heard of the White House. Washington D.C. is where much of American history takes place and where much of American culture is shaped and shared with the world. Featured in countless movies, songs, books, and photographs, this city is an iconic and natural place for an immersive experience of the United States. This program will take students through Smithsonian museums, historic alleyways, monuments, and memorials for an unforgettable understanding of the American dream.

Theme alternatives

Fully customizable authentic experiences

At Insight, our program itineraries are as unique as your students. All our program itineraries are customized with teacher chaperones to ensure that it meets the needs of your students.

With the support of a variety of local vendors and NGO’s, we promise that your students will get an authentic, local experience.

What's included

All our trips include:

Program highlights

  • Take a guided tour through the US Capitol, a symbol of the American people and their government, and the meeting place of the nation’s legislature. 

  • Visit world famous and iconic Smithsonian museums like the Natural History Museum, American History Museum, African American History Museum, and the Air and Space Museum.

  • See lions, tigers, and pandas – oh my! The National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute leads the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists.

How it works

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Want to take your students outside the classroom? Review our program locations and suggested themes.

Connect with one of our High School Educators who will help custom design your program.

With our assistance, submit required paperwork and details to your Administration and School Board.

Announce the trip to your students! (We’ll provide all the materials you need).

Invite us to your school to host a Student & Parent Info Night! We will be there to answer questions and support student sign-up!

Sample Itinerary

  • Welcome to Washington DC! Take a stroll around the Tidal Basin to see the Washington Monument and Thomas Jefferson Memorial before heading to a welcome dinner.US Capitol Grounds
  • Construction of The Capitol began in 1793. Take a guided tour through this architecturally stunning building, a symbol of the American people and their government, and the meeting place of the nation’s legislature. Explore the rest of the Capital Campus home to the US Botanic Garden, US Supreme Court, and Library of Congress where what began in 1800 as Congress’s research library has grown into the largest book collection in the world.

  • Visit the International Spy Museum in Washington DC and step into the shoes of a spy! Test your spy skills; you’ll be challenged to remember your cover identity, crack codes, and uncover hidden dead drop sites. See famous espionage artifacts including the Enigma Machine, the Trotsky Ice Axe, and James Bond’s Aston Martin.

  • Delve into the fascinating story of our planet, from its fiery beginnings through billions of years of transformation, and explore life on Earth through exhibitions and activities, collection objects and research that happens in the lab and in the field. See hundreds of butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion, an African bush elephant in the rotunda, and the 45.5-carat Hope Diamond, notorious both for its stunning beauty and for being cursed. Legend has it that the stone was stolen from a statue of a Hindu goddess.

  • Explore the world’s premier collection of air and space artifacts, stories, and expertise at the National Air and Space Museum.

  • Spend the evening watching a performance at the Kennedy Center. *Schedule dependent

  • The National Museum of American History is home to an extraordinary national collection encompassing everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner to Abraham Lincoln’s top hat; from pioneering early computers to the first artificial heart; from Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet to Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The museum’s exhibitions explore fundamental American ideals and ideas—such as democracy, opportunity, and freedom—and major themes in American history and culture, from European contact in the Americas to the present day.

  • The National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute leads the Smithsonian’s global efforts to save species, better understand ecosystems and train future generations of conservationists. Lions, tigers, giraffes and the zoo’s beloved giant pandas are just some of the animals that call the park home.The zoo is home to some of the planet’s most critically endangered species and is working toward a world where humankind unites in support of a biodiverse planet where wildlife and nature thrive.
  • Take a stroll through the National Mall and Memorial Parks home to many of the United State’s most iconic memorials telling the story of people and events that shaped the nation. See famous monuments and memorials including the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, and WWII Memorial.

  • Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Highlights include Harriet Tubman’s hymnal, Nat Turner’s bible, a plantation cabin from South Carolina, a guard tower from Angola Prison, and Michael Jackson’s fedora.

  • Set off for a unique walking tour of the Blagden Alley/Naylor Court Historic District where alleyways served as a haven for the city’s working class and escaped enslaved persons, and the backdrop of one of DC’s most fascinating stories.

  • Begin your journey home

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