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Study Tours

Study Tours

Smithsonian Associates Study Tours takes the educational intent of our fabulous programming outside the classroom and on the road!

About our tours

Each tour is led by one of our Study Leaders with expertise in the subject matter along with a Smithsonian Representative to handle all the logistics and comforts of the group. The study leader imparts knowledge both formally and informally throughout the tour, with methods that can include a background lecture, handout materials, narrating site visits, and stimulating social engagement with all participants during the course of the tour.

Tour types

Study tours include day bus trips, multi-day and overnight tours, and shorter neighborhood walks or visits to specific sites. We offer over 70 study tours each year, and we hope you will join us!

Select a tour type to learn more:

Day bus tours visit destinations as close as Capitol Hill and as far as New York City or Maryland's Eastern Shore. Topics for these tours are wide-ranging and cover subjects such as military history, art, architecture, railroading, horticulture, gastronomy, and literature.

Popular tours have included:

  • Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater
  • John Wilkes Booth's Escape Route
  • Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
  • Sultana Cruise & Historic Chestertown
  • The Cloisters of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Overnight tours give Study Leaders the opportunity to take a group a greater distance from Washington, DC. Study Leaders spend more time with participants and explore the subject in greater detail. The majority of these tours depart from Washington, DC, however for some tours the group meets at the destination.

Popular tours have included:

  • Best of Brooklyn, New York
  • Berkshires Summer Sampler
  • Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago
  • Corning Museum of Glass
  • West Virginia Railroad Spectacular

Walking and on-site tours last two to three hours. Participants meet directly at the tour destination and spend time with the Study Leader exploring that particular subject or neighborhood.

Popular tours have included:

  • Inside Smithsonian Libraries
  • Architecture on the National Mall
  • Dupont Circle and Embassy Row
  • Sunrise Hike at Great Falls
  • Roosevelt Island Walks

Resources

Meet your Study Leaders

All upcoming Study Tours

Programs 1 to 5 of 13
The Holidays in Old Town Alexandria
Saturday, ​December 13, 2025 - ​10:00 a.m. ​to 12:00 p.m. ET​
In-Person Tour
Details

Step back in time as Lynn O’Connell leads an exploration of how Christmases of yesteryear were celebrated in Alexandria, Virginia. As you walk through Old Town Alexandria, learn how John Carlyle, George Washington, and other city leaders of the 18th century marked the seasons and which new customs were brought to Alexandria in the 1880s and 1890s. Get the delicious details on the holiday feasts served at historic Gadsby’s Tavern in the 19th century, including George Washington’s favorite dish—and his rather boozy eggnog.

Henri Rousseau at the Barnes Foundation
Sunday, ​December 14, 2025 - ​7:30 a.m. ​to 7:00 p.m. ET​
In-Person Tour
Details

Known for his lush jungle scenes and imaginative compositions, Henri Rousseau was a self-taught artist whose work defied convention and captivated generations of Modernists. Art historian Ursula Wolfman takes you into his vibrant world at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia with the special exhibition “Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets,” co-organized with the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris.

The Holidays in Old Town Alexandria
Sunday, ​December 14, 2025 - ​10:00 a.m. ​to 12:00 p.m. ET​
In-Person Tour
Details

Step back in time as Lynn O’Connell leads an exploration of how Christmases of yesteryear were celebrated in Alexandria, Virginia. As you walk through Old Town Alexandria, learn how John Carlyle, George Washington, and other city leaders of the 18th century marked the seasons and which new customs were brought to Alexandria in the 1880s and 1890s. Get the delicious details on the holiday feasts served at historic Gadsby’s Tavern in the 19th century, including George Washington’s favorite dish—and his rather boozy eggnog.

An Artful Weekend in New York: The Frick Collection, Neue Galerie New York, and Morgan Library & Museum
Saturday, ​January 24, ​2026 - 8:00 a.m., ​to Sunday, ​January 25, ​2026 - 10:30 p.m. ET​
In-Person Overnight Tour
Details

Discover three of New York City's most renowned cultural treasures. Spend an afternoon at the Frick Collection with artwork spanning from the Renaissance to the early 20th century; get a private tour of the Neue Galerie New York before opening hours to see the main collection and a special exhibition of German masterworks from 1890 to 1940; and take a guided tour of the Morgan Library & Museum, then explore its 350,000-plus illuminated manuscripts, rare books, manuscripts, and drawings on your own. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

An Art Lover’s Day Out: The Walters Art Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art
Friday, ​February 13, 2026 - ​8:30 a.m. ​to 6:30 p.m. ET​
In-Person Tour
Register

Beat the winter blues and immerse yourself in the warmth of creativity at two of Baltimore’s cultural gems: the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The visit to the Walters includes a special tour of the “Latin American Art/Arte Latinoamericano” exhibition. The Baltimore Museum of Art visit includes the opportunity to see the Cone Collection, which includes 500 works by Matisse. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)