Embark on an exclusive guided tour of the National Archives and American History Museum in Washington DC. Skip the line and discover the founding documents, iconic artifacts, and fascinating stories that shaped the United States of America.
- The National Archives Museum - This is the best way to skip-the-line and save time, to explore the experiment that is the United States of America! Start with the original handwritten “Charters of Freedom” housed in their spectacular Rotunda. Your guide will narrate the extraordinary circumstances that brought this nation into existence. No trip to the US Capital city is complete without a visit to the National Archives. Surround yourself with documents and paintings that offer both depth and nuance to the period that founded the United States of America. And at Babylon we take it a step farther. In the Rubenstein Gallery, go even deeper into the philosophical foundations by viewing a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta. Your guide will encourage you to explore the concept of citizenship, what it means and how the criteria for those included have evolved from a declaration which stated “all men are created equal”.
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National Museum of American History - After a break to ponder the complexity of history (and grab a bite) your guide will lead you to the Smithsonian American History Museum. This museum is a caretaker for an incredible blend of scholarly history and pop culture whose memories create a unique bond among the people who experienced them. Your guide will introduce you to the most famous items in the collection, like the flag that flew over Ft McHenry inspiring the poem that was eventually adapted into the National Anthem.
Featured too is the most visited exhibition in the history of the Smithsonian: the First Ladies exhibit. While you’re there, see why the most requested artifact is Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers — displayed not too far from the top hat Abraham Lincoln wore that fateful night to Ford’s Theatre. Your guide will provide stories and background to expand on the reason these items (out of hundreds of thousands in the collection) serve as living touchstones for the concept we call the United States of America.
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- Private tour with dedicated tour guide
- Includes both walking tour & museum visit
- Private transportation between locations
- 5.5-hour experience with lunch break
- Tour operates regardless of weather
- Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
- Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
- Tour is NOT available for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
This exclusive 5.5-hour combo tour allows guests to bypass the line and explore the two essential museums in Washington DC. This is an ideal approach to study the living social experiment that is the United States of America! Begin with our inaugurating manuscript, culminate with an investigation of subsequent events. Our guides offer narratives, insights, and personal accounts to illuminate the dynamic outcomes.
Frequent highlights include (but are not restricted to):
- The authentic Declaration of Independence
- The Constitution
- The Bill of Rights
- The 1297 Magna Carta
- Lincoln’s Top Hat
- The First Ladies exhibit
- Dorothy’s Sparkling Red Shoes
- The Star-Spangled Banner
- It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
- Notes: The National Archives & American History Museum and other attractions or museums in DC may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with ‘Skip the Line’ or ‘No Wait’ access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.