Beginning with Capt. John Smith’s expedition in 1608 to the upper Chesapeake Bay (the first by a European), through the British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814, to the 21st-century cruise liners and cargo vessels that dock there, the Port of Baltimore is one of the country’s preeminent maritime centers. Naval historian Abby Mullen leads a day in the harbor exploring three vessels and celebrating Baltimore’s role as a vital port in maritime history.

Set amid the rolling landscape of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, three distinguished historic houses—Glen Burnie, Belle Grove, and Long Branch—offer a window into the region’s architectural and cultural heritage. Led by regional historian Hayden Mathews, explore how these estates and their landscapes shaped life in the valley from the mid-18th through the early 19th centuries.

Discover three of New York City's most renowned cultural treasures. Led by art historian Judy Pomeranz, spend an afternoon at the Morgan Library & Museum that includes a guided tour and time to explore its 350,000-plus illuminated manuscripts, rare books, manuscripts, and drawings on your own; a morning visit to the Guggenheim Museum for a guided look at the Thannhauser Collection which includes important late 19th- and early 20th-century Modernist art; and explore the Frick Collection’s artwork spanning from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Join art guide Nancy Hirshbein as you spend a summer’s day immersed in the ideas, rivalries, scientific and social developments, and collectors that shaped modern and contemporary art. Begin at the Hirshhorn Museum by viewing “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960,” a landmark exhibition charting the rapid succession of movements that shaped Modernism and ushered in the rise of Abstraction. In the afternoon, enjoy a self-guided exploration of the Glenstone museum campus, including the “Ties of our common kindred,” exhibition marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (World Art History Certificate elective, ½ credit)

Take a walking tour through history and design to explore the National Mall’s evolution from its earliest conception to its most recent additions. With tour leader Bill Keene, marvel at the rich tapestry of architectural styles represented by the Smithsonian buildings and get a glimpse at the Mall’s newest landmark, the Frank Gehry–designed Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)