Students Explore Nation’s Capital on Immersive Washington, D.C. Trip
For 92 students from LaRue County Middle School, a few days away from Kentucky wasn't a vacation. It was a chance to step into history.
From March 26–29, a group of 129 participants, including students, 10 teachers, Principal Alex Patterson, and 26 adult chaperones (primarily parents), loaded up three buses and made the journey from Hodgenville, Kentucky, to Washington, D.C.
The trip, especially designed for eighth graders, ties directly into their social studies curriculum, which focuses on American history from the early settlements to the end of the Civil War. For many of these students, it was the first time they had traveled far from home or even stayed in a hotel overnight. This journey opened their eyes in ways no textbook ever could.
“These kids got to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Mr. Paden’s favorite the Magna Carta in person,” said Abby Lee. “That’s not just memorable, it’s transformative.”
The group began their trip with a visit to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, and capped off their first night with a walking tour of the Tidal Basin, taking in the monuments of Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Jefferson himself—lit beautifully under the night sky.
Thursday packed a punch: the students toured the U.S. Capitol Building, marveled at the Library of Congress, and got a dose of science and culture at the Smithsonian Natural History and American History Museums. After a quick photo op—an impromptu dance party—outside the White House, the day wrapped up with a solemn visit to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.
The learning didn’t stop there.
Friday brought emotional moments at the Holocaust Museum, where students asked difficult questions and were moved by the powerful exhibits. They toured Ford’s Theater and the Peterson House, where Kentucky’s native son Abraham Lincoln’s life came to a tragic end, then spent the evening at the WWII Memorial and walked among the solemn tributes to soldiers at the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials.
Before heading home on Saturday, the group visited Arlington National Cemetery, witnessing the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a moving end to their time in the capital.
Beyond the monuments and museums, this trip offered something even more profound: perspective.
“For many of our students, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip,” said Lee. “This trip allowed students who grew up in a rural community in central Kentucky to get a glimpse at how big the world really is, even from just a few states away.”
Students traced the name of Carl Cooper, LaRue County’s only Vietnam War casualty, on the Memorial wall. They wept in the Holocaust Museum. They had the opportunity to feel history.
This trip aligns perfectly with the LC Learner Profile’s goal of creating Engaged Citizens: young people who understand that their actions and decisions affect more than just themselves.
“This trip provides authentic learning opportunities towards that end goal by immersing students in museums and places that have had an impact on the American identity over time,” Lee said. “They saw historical exhibits and buildings that have literally shaped America's government systems.”
A special moment came when two students, both involved in the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA), were able to view a live House of Representatives session from the gallery thanks to their tour guide’s connections.
“Watching them witness actual legislation in process, on agricultural policy, no less, was a real ‘aha’ moment,” shared Lee and.
The DC trip was a life-changing experience that connected what students learn in the classroom to the real world around them. It gave them a front-row seat to the stories, struggles, and triumphs that have shaped our nation.