SCHOOL TRIPS: History & politics in the US

Years 12 and 13 history and politics students hit the ground running when they arrived in New York to enjoy a stunning cityscape from the Empire State Building, viewing the Statue of Liberty in glorious sunshine.

They joined in a soccer (football) game in Central Park, before heading to see the Mets defeat the Cardinals in a tense and exciting game, won in style in the 9th & final inning. Staying just off Times Square, they’ve saw just how busy the ‘city that never sleeps’ really is!

Students went on to visit a key site from the American Civil War. The Gettysburg battlefield tour gave great insight into the battlefield decisions faced by Confederate General Robert E Lee and Union General George G Meade, as well as the experience of the troops and residents of Gettysburg. Some of the students were so impressed with the original artillery pieces from the battle that they re-enacted a scene from the cannon bombardment immediately before Pickett’s charge.

They later enjoyed a quick pit stop at the White House before dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and an evening walking tour of some key sites such as Ford’s Theatre, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and sites around the National Mall including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln memorial. 

During their trip, they also visited the truly fantastic National Museum of African American History & Culture, followed by some well-deserved free time to take advantage of the wonderful and varied museums and galleries of the Smithsonian along the National Mall. Some opted for the Museum of American History, while the Natural History Museum also proved popular; others enjoyed the Botanic Gardens. 

Everyone enjoyed a late afternoon walk around the memorials of the National Mall commemorating US presidents Jefferson, Lincoln and F.D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as the Korean War memorial and the wonderfully evocative Martin Luther King memorial.