Learning on Tour – Civil Rights

Exploring the world with your students is one of the best ways to bring classroom lessons to life in meaningful, memorable ways. We’ve shared our recommendations for sharing 9/11 with students – this latest post highlights another opportunity to expose students to an important time in our nation’s history, the Civil Rights Movement.

Today’s students are often familiar with the civil rights issues at hand in our nation today. Walking through the museums and memorials that honor the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s provides students a deeper understanding of where we’ve been as a nation and the important work that their generation can be a part of. We’ve grouped the tours and experiences we recommend by the destination you’ll find them in: 

Washington, D.C.

Our nation’s capitol has no shortage of opportunities to explore our country’s civil rights history – The National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial and National Mall to name a few. Students can stand on the same Lincoln Memorial steps where Martin Luther King Jr. stood to deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech. Or journey past the Mountain of Despair to the Stone of Hope that bears King’s likeness on the National Mall. Or explore the exhibits within the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Washington, D.C. is packed with living history lessons and provides an excellent backdrop for students to learn about the Civil Rights Movement.

Nashville and Memphis

The National Civil Rights Museum is located in Memphis, Tennessee, the site of Dr. King’s assassination. Students will be fully immersed in civil rights history, from Colonialism to the present day. Just a few hours away, Nashville is home to many of the sit-in demonstrations that served as models for demonstrations across the South. Students can also explore the Civil Rights Room at the Nashville Public Library and learn more about sit-in demonstrations and how those acts of peaceful bravery helped propel the entire Movement.

We count it a privilege to provide opportunities for students to experience the history that defines our nation. If your group is interested in learning more about destinations rich in Civil Rights history or other specific time periods that built our nation, please reach out– it’s our pleasure to craft one of a kind travel experiences that give students the chance to explore, think and grow.