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Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are suspending tour operations and services until at least April 30th to combat further spread of the virus and ensure the safety of our guests and employees. We understand that the rest of the country, as well as the world, are taking necessary precautions in order to prevent further spread.
That being said, we understand that spring is here and many people are sad to miss out on trips to far off places, including Washington D.C.
While we’re still of the opinion nothing beats a guided tour to give your D.C. experience a more personal feel, we at USA Guided Tours want to recommend virtual tours of D.C.’s most popular sites and scenes to help combat self-isolation and look forward to post-quarantine life again. Once the quarantine is lifted be sure to schedule your trip with USA Guided Tours! We offer personalized tours with local tour guides to make your school trip, family vacation, or retreat to D.C. extra special.
Here is a list of attractions in Washington D.C. which offer virtual tours for you to explore from your home.
The Smithsonian Institution, better known as The Smithsonian, is a group of museums which was founded by the United States Government in 1846 for the “increase and diffusion of knowledge.” There’s no better time than during quarantine to take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian and curb your cabin fever. Explore current and past exhibits, and even view additional tours all from the comfort of your home. You can take self-guided tours through the museums using your smartphone, home computer, or mobile device using any commonly-tested and used operating system like Windows or PC. The Smithsonian Virtual Tour features over fifteen current exhibits and even more past exhibits for you to explore room-by-room. Utilize your time during quarantine to expand your knowledge to explore the many museums and research centers of the Smithsonian.
Using Google Maps or YouTube, you can take a virtual tour of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. Each year, more than 20,000 students alone visit the Museum to learn the history of the Holocaust, and USA Guided Tours understands the interest or need even to utilize this virtual tour. The Museum is the official memorial for the Holocaust in the United States and features a Learning Center to teach the lessons the dangers of hatred can do in our world, both in the 1930s and 1940s and resonating through today. This virtual tour would be great for students currently distance learning from their homes during self-isolation who want an in-depth resource for history and or social studies course.
Another Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture only recently opened the doors to its current location in September of 2016, though it was established in 2003. The Museum tells the complex but extremely interesting and important narrative of African American history throughout time. In 2007, the NMAAHC was the first major museum to open online before completing a physical structure, and as of 201, the Museum’s collection is noted at 40,000 objects for the public to view. The tour features a three-dimensional graphic of the building with exhibitions to hover over and learn more about. This tour is a great opportunity for anyone who had planned to visit the NMAAHC this spring but was unable to do so due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
This year’s cherry blossom blooms are predicted to begin March 27, and due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the festival will be held virtually for everyone to enjoy. To view the blossoms, see the festival here or watch the 24/7 bloom cam to watch the trees pop in a flourish of pink and white. Every spring, the 3,800 cherry trees along Washington, D.C.’s Tidal Basin burst into a picturesque scene that is hard to miss any year, but especially this one. The blooms last roughly just four to seven days and it is a highly anticipated annual event for enthusiasts, experts, locals, and visitors alike. Although we’re sad for the many people who will miss the opportunity to view the blossoms for themselves this year, finding unique ways to experience all the beautiful sites of the world is a great advantage of the technology we have today to help us through quarantine. Tools like virtual tours can help many of us get through the tough times and give us something to look forward to when this outbreak passes.
If you’ve ever visited the National Air and Space Museum in the spring, you’re likely to remember how many people are there: school trips gathered around, families learning about aerodynamics, and visitors taking photos. As the most visited museum in the United States, COVID-19 has brought everything to a halting stop, and now is your opportunity to “walk through” the National Air and Space Museum by yourself. Thanks to photographer Jim Walker, detailed panoramic photos are now available for viewers to interact with and navigate through the Air and Space Museum. And, if you have virtual reality (VR) capabilities, you can view the museum using your device and feel as though you’re really there!
Similarly to the Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial also offers a VR Field Trip capability for students missing out on field trips to interact with and walkthrough. The Lincoln Memorial virtual tour features videos of President Lincoln’s 2nd Inaugural Address as well as the Gettysburg Address. It also shows viewers the famous Emancipation and Unity murals, and none other than a statue of President Lincoln himself. While you may not be able to experience the feeling of the columns for yourself or take in the greatness of Lincoln’s statue on your own for the time being, you can use the tools you have to curb those quarantine feelings and even use VR to look out over the Washington Monument lit up at night from Lincoln’s feet.
Last but not least, conclude your tour of our nation’s capital with a view of the White House itself. With the help from Google Arts and Culture, a full tour of one of the most famous landmarks in the nation is available for you to view from the comfort of your home. View the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the Art and Decor featuring famous portraits of presidents past and prominent historical figures, and more.
Every president since President John Adams has lived in the White House, and the history of this building extends far beyond the construction of its walls. We acknowledge that at this time, the United States is in an unprecedented time in history with the rest of the world. The White House is a place where history continues to unfold and you can be a part of it through virtual tours.
Our goal as a company at this time is to keep you, our guests, and our employees safe. We are taking this time and opportunity to reflect on history in the making and we look forward to sharing more tours with you again in the future. In the meantime, we hope this post has inspired you on a virtual tour of your own that extends beyond the contents of this blog.
Once the time of coronavirus and quarantine has passed, consider scheduling an individualized tour with USA Guided Tours to experience even more of Washington D.C. in all its glory – people, places, and all. Our goal is to design a tour specific to you, your class, your family, and more, to create the best possible experience for your trip to D.C. We utilize luxury buses to help transport you throughout Washington D.C. and our guides will personally hop off with you to give you a detailed narrative of each site you visit, rather than leave you to wander on your own and miss out on all the great information and insights the pros can offer.
USA Guided Tours Blogging Team