During the late 1800s, Washington heiresses, industrial magnates, newspaper tycoons, and political elites built opulent mansions along Massachusetts Avenue in styles such as Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, and Queen Anne. However, their lavish lifestyle collapsed during the Great Depression, after which many of these magnificent mansions were sold and converted into embassies, social clubs, and offices. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads a walk through the neighborhood as she provides views of some of these grand homes.

Between 350 and 750, western Europe underwent a profound transformation. The Roman empire, which had dominated the ancient world for more than half a millennium, collapsed. The last Western Roman emperor was deposed in 476, while new peoples competed with the Roman population and with each other. In a 4-part series, historian David Gwynn traces the entangled stories of the Goths, Huns, Franks, and Anglo-Saxons, who interacted in different ways with the Roman empire and its legacy and together shaped the history of Christian Europe and Western civilization. This session focuses on the Franks.

Follow the 25-year journey of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s vice president of horticulture, Andrew Bunting, as he transforms his suburban Philadelphia property into a private garden featuring a series of distinctive small spaces. Bunting covers his approach to garden design, plant choice, seasonal displays, and his maintenance regime and covers the challenges of creating a personal landscape that provides practical lessons and creative ideas for home gardeners.

Discover the power of reflective writing guided by the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, Mary Hall Surface. In this workshop, participants explore the innovative compositions of the 20th-century Dutch printmaker M.C. Escher, to discover how his interlocking forms and shifting patterns inspire creative reflection about the connections and transformations in our lives.

Designing a garden, whether small or large, means considering many factors. Ecologist Shaun McCoshum offers innovative conservation and ecological ideas to create a garden in a way that he says can help restore broken natural processes and build resilient ecosystems. While native plants are essential, McCoshum believes it’s also important to understand the needs of animals, their habitats, and how natural systems work together.

Montgomery Meigs is best known as the quartermaster general of the Union Army who played a key role during the Civil War. Less known, however, is that he also was an engineer, architect, inventor, patron of the arts, and regent of the Smithsonian. Delve into his life and legacy as you enjoy a full day of history and architecture with the Washington, D.C., area as your backdrop. Bill Keene, a lecturer in history, urban studies, and architecture, leads the tour.

A quirky 18th-century international dispute over natural history quickly took on political overtones. Thomas Jefferson wanted to refute a French naturalist’s theory that all life in America was degenerate and weak, so he asked that a large dead moose be shipped to France. The theory, however, continued to have scientific, economic, and political implications for 100 years. Evolutionary biologist Lee Alan Dugatkin highlights this fascinating tale.

Experience forest bathing as Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified nature and forest-therapy guide, leads a 2-hour walk along a scenic stretch of Rock Creek in the nation’s oldest urban national park. Move slowly to soak up the beauty of the flowing creek and the lush greens of the trees. Focus on the sights, sounds, and woodsy fragrances of Rock Creek Park, letting go of cares while slowly exploring the surroundings through all senses.