The paintings of the Hudson River School artists define our image of early 19th-century America. Works by Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, Frederic Edwin Church, and other lesser-known artists synthesize the spirit of European landscape masters with the distinctly American view of nature, science, and spirituality reflected in Thoreau and Emerson. Art historian Heidi Applegate examines why the Hudson River School artists were so popular, how they fell out of favor, and why their art has generated renewed interest. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Geoffrey Chaucer is often called the father of English literature, but biographer Marion Turner also reveals him as a great European writer and thinker. Drawing on new information, she reconstructs in detail the cosmopolitan world of his adventurous life by focusing on the places he visited, the buildings he inhabited, the books he read, and the art and objects he saw—and how they fired his imagination.

With September marking the start of Piedmont’s truffle season, it’s only fitting to explore the complementary wines of one of Italy's most famed regions—one that boasts more DOCGs than any other. Sommelier Erik Segelbaum spotlights the range of notable semi-alpine Piedmont wines and why they belong at almost any dinner table. This immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

Located just 15 miles outside Washington, the Great Falls of the Potomac is the most magnificent natural landmark in the metropolitan area. Rise early on an fall morning, avoid the crowds, and enjoy a small-group hiking experience with naturalist Keith Tomlinson. Examine the natural history of the area’s forest, observe a variety of birds, and learn about the effect of local land-use patterns on conservation efforts along the Potomac.

Fleeing Ford’s Theatre on the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth traveled through Maryland into Virginia, where, a few days later, he was found and fatally shot. Historian Michael Kauffman takes you along Booth’s escape route and reveals the personalities and intrigues surrounding the Lincoln assassination.

For more than a century, Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov have captivated readers with their spellbinding narratives, philosophical brilliance, and insights into human psychology and spirituality. Joseph Luzzi, professor of literature at Bard College, takes you inside two of the most consequential novels ever written and explores how their insights continue to illuminate our lives today.

During the late 1800s, Washington’s movers and shakers strolled the streets of Dupont Circle, where Massachusetts Avenue was the city’s premier residential address. However, during and after the Great Depression, many of the neighborhood’s magnificent mansions were sold and converted into embassies, social clubs, and offices. Join local historian and guide Carolyn Muraskin on a walk through Dupont Circle for views of grand homes such as the Walsh-McLean House (now the Indonesian embassy), Townsend House (now the Cosmos Club), and Woodrow Wilson House (now a museum).

Learn the secrets of plein air landscape oil painting working in the beautiful surroundings of Rock Creek Park. Students learn how to capture the spirit and essence of a fall landscape while developing strong observational painting techniques on location.

The story of the Astors is a quintessentially American story of ambition, invention, destruction, and reinvention. From 1783, when German immigrant John Jacob Astor arrived in the United States, until 2009, when Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, was convicted of defrauding her, the Astor name occupied a distinctive place in American society. Journalist Anderson Cooper, in conversation with CNN’s Dana Bash, discusses the family’s riveting history.

Located just 15 miles outside Washington, the Great Falls of the Potomac is the most magnificent natural landmark in the metropolitan area. Rise early on an fall morning, avoid the crowds, and enjoy a small-group hiking experience with naturalist Keith Tomlinson. Examine the natural history of the area’s forest, observe a variety of birds, and learn about the effect of local land-use patterns on conservation efforts along the Potomac.