Programs

Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley has a rich geological heritage, shaped over millions of years of natural history. Gregg Clemmer, an experienced caver, takes you deep into that ancient past at two of the state’s most notable caverns and offers a chance to sample products of the valley’s fertile soil at a visit to a regional vineyard and winery.

Two centuries of archaeological excavation and exploration have revealed that ancient Israel’s neighbors—Egypt, Canaan, Aram, Assyria, and Babylonia—all contributed significantly to its history, from its origins through the Babylonian exile and beyond. Biblical narratives reflect connections to these ancient cultures. In an illustrated all-day program, biblical scholar Gary Rendsburg explores how the people who left us the Bible were informed by other civilizations and how these influences are reflected in its books.

The Southwest Waterfront has been a backdrop for history since the neighborhood’s origins in the 1770s. Over the centuries the waterfront has seen booming commercial growth, weathered decades of decline, and faced the challenges of urban renewal in the 1950s. Today, a new wave of development is again changing the fabric of Southwest Washington. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, explores the planning history of the Southwest Waterfront and some of its architectural highlights.

The Allied invasion of Sicily in July and August 1943, codenamed Operation Husky, was the largest combined amphibious operation in history. While it was successful and led to the fall of the Mussolini regime, it resulted in tough and sometimes costly lessons in warfare that would prove valuable in the planning and execution of Operation Overlord the following June. Kevin Weddle, professor emeritus of military theory and strategy at the U.S. Army War College, examines a critically important operation that played a major, but often forgotten role, in the Allies’ ultimate success in World War II in Europe.

As the wealthiest city in Europe in the 17th century, Amsterdam transformed itself into a thriving center for great artists, scientists, writers, and scholars, as well as a hub of banking and finance. Historian Ralph Nurnberger explores the many facets of this capital city’s heady rise, from its growing religious tolerance to the collapse of tulip futures—capitalism's first “bubble.”

Washington's reputation as a hub for vibrant arts and culture is well-deserved, with more than 80 professional companies poised to launch their 2024­–2025 seasons. How can audiences pick the must-see productions, determine which ones offer the best value, and identify those that might not meet their expectations? As part of the annual Theatre Week celebration, president and CEO of Theatre Washington Amy Austin, freelance dramatrug Lauren Halvorsen, and a panel of experts explore the exciting lineup of productions awaiting audiences on stages both large and small and how to make the most of your theater-going experience.

During an era of widespread secular and religious reform initiatives from the late-18th through the early-20th centuries, the Shakers sought to embody a purity of life, re-make human relations, and fulfill a utopian vision of a “New Heaven and a New Earth.” William Dinges, professor emeritus of religious studies at The Catholic University of America, examines the origins of the movement; its theological worldview; and the social, cultural, and historical factors that both contributed to the Shakers’ longevity and led to their demise.

Even though the United States escaped World War II with little physical damage, the war shaped the development of American life, society, and culture in numerous ways in the years that followed. Some people remember the 1950s nostalgically, but this decade also saw radical changes to the way Americans lived. Allen Pietrobon, a professor of global affairs at Trinity Washington University, explores the ripple effects of the war on how Americans lived, traveled, ate, and grappled with racial issues.

For almost 100 years, a masterpiece by one of the few female members of the prestigious Paris Salon was missing. Happily, Anne Vallayer-Coster’s Still Life with Flowers in an Alabaster Vase and Fruit reappeared in 2022 and now hangs at the National Gallery of Art. Aaron Wile, the associate curator of French painting, explores this work’s fascinating story and Vallayer-Coster’s life. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Elections during the first few decades of America’s existence were often haphazard affairs. Everything from who could vote to the location of the polls to how long the polls would be open varied from state to state and often from election to election. Historian Rosemarie Zagarri explores how the idea of a two-party democracy evolved less by design and more from a constant push-and-pull between those seeking to cast their ballots and those who made the rules about when, where, and how the ballots were to be cast. William Gormley, an expert in government and public policy, draws some connections between the first political parties and the present.