All upcoming Study Tours

Home to over a million objects from around the globe, Philadelphia’s Penn Museum bridges the study of archaeology and anthropology. Spend the day immersed in ancient art and culture with art historian Renee Gondek and see Sumerian cuneiform tablets, Buddhist sculptures, Native American regalia, and the monumental Sphinx of Ramses II, plus the Greek gallery, which represents the history and culture of Greece from 3000 to 31 B.C.E. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Historians talk about “reading” a monument as a way to learn more about the relationship between the people who erect it and the historical event it pays tribute to. War memorials can be especially fascinating places to practice these thinking skills, and there is no better place in the United States to think about the memory of conflict than on the National Mall. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a day dedicated to four memorials on the Mall: the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.

For 115 years, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, has stood as one of the world’s leading collections of plants, showcasing botanical splendor and state-of-the-art glasshouses. Celebrate the yuletide season at Longwood during a day that explores a newly reopened conservatory, holiday-themed gardens, and a stunning light display.

There’s no more iconic holiday performance in New York than Radio City Music Hall’s famed Christmas Spectacular. And there’s no better way to see the precision dancing of the Rockettes than from prime orchestra seats in the fabulous Art Deco theater where the show has been a tradition since 1933. In addition, get a special behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the Music Hall, covering the stunning 1930s interiors and art, the Great Stage, Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, and an opportunity to meet a Rockette along the way.

During the winter season, Cape May, New Jersey, transforms from a beach destination into a storybook holiday town. A two-day tour offers the opportunity to experience this National Historic Landmark site and its Victorian elegance during a magical time of year.

View iconic masterpieces and learn the stories behind their creation as lecturer Paul Glenshaw leads an engaging tour of three museums focused on several of the great works featured in his popular Art + History series for Smithsonian Associates. Start the tour at the National Gallery of Art followed by a brisk outdoor walk and lunch at a nearby restaurant. Enjoy the afternoon at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

View iconic masterpieces and learn the stories behind their creation as lecturer Paul Glenshaw leads an engaging tour of three museums focused on several of the great works featured in his popular Art + History series for Smithsonian Associates. Start the tour at the National Gallery of Art followed by a brisk outdoor walk and lunch at a nearby restaurant. Enjoy the afternoon at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Immerse yourself in Manhattan’s cultural splendors during a winter weekend getaway filled with a blend of the city’s finest music and art—plus a Saturday night on the town to enjoy as you’d like. The weekend includes a performance by the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center and tours of exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Art historian Ursula Rehn Wolfman leads the visit.