2019 American Foundations Study Tour
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ITINERARY
Day 1, April 26th: Arrival in Philadelphia
Guests arrive at Philadelphia International Airport and will be greeted by Sovereign Concierges who will provide assistance as you wait to be transported via coach to our official hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are pre-keyed into their appointed rooms and will be given the Day 1 American Foundations tour itinerary newsletter that will identify the day's events at the Sovereign guest reception desk. We will then enjoy a full dinner and lecture with your Ligonier Teaching Fellows. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Day 2, April 27th: Princeton, NJ
After an early breakfast, we will journey to the historic university city of Princeton. Along the way, we will discuss the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Upon arrival, we will first discover Nassau Hall. You will explore the gravesites of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, Charles Hodge, Archibald Alexander, Aaron Burr, John Witherspoon, B.B. Warfield, Grover Cleveland and others who have contributed to the legacy of Princeton University. We will visit Miller Chapel, Princeton Seminary and explore the theological and philosophical greats on whose shoulders American Evangelicals stand today. We will head back to Philadelphia and enjoy our evening together with dinner. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Day 3, April 28th: Philadelphia, PA
After a full breakfast, we will seek to understand the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. We will embark on a walking and riding tour of the sites and locations that are the subject of decades of history, myth, and legend. Learn the true account of how America began with prayer and devotion to God at the exact places where the foundation was laid. From battle fields during the American Revolution to the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed, America was truly born right here in Philadelphia. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Day 4, April 29th: Mount Vernon, VA
After a full breakfast, we will depart Philadelphia and head to George Washington's beloved home of Mount Vernon, VA. Mount Vernon began as a one and one-half story house built in 1735 by George's father, Augustine, and received its wellknown name during the ownership of his half-brother, Lawrence. George acquired Mount Vernon in 1754, and over the next 45 years slowly enlarged the dwelling to create the resplendent 21-room residence we see today. Washington personally supervised each renovation; advising on design, construction and decoration-even during the Revolutionary War. Conscious that the world was watching, Washington selected architectural features that expressed his growing status as a Virginia gentleman planter and ultimately as the leader of a fledgling democratic nation. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Day 5, April 30th: Jamestown, VA
In 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, a group of 104 English men and boys began a settlement on the banks of Virginia's James River. They were sponsored by the Virginia Company of London, whose stockholders hoped to make a profit from the resources of the New World. The community suffered terrible hardships in its early years, but managed to endure, earning the distinction of being America's first permanent English colony. Here we will also learn the stories of Captain John Smith, Pocahontas, and the influence of Christianity on the people. When Queen Elizabeth died, her successor, King James I (who later sponsored the translation known as the King James Bible), furthered England's colonial dreams by granting a charter for colonial settlement to a group of businessmen who had organized themselves into the Virginia Company. A Christian witness to the native Americans was one of the reasons for establishing Jamestown, England's first permanent American colony. We will visit the original 1607 Jamestown Island settlement, 1607 Jamestown Church, the Robert Hunt Memorial, the Captain John Smith statue, and the Tercentenary Monument. |
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Day 6, May 1st: Colonial Williamsburg
We will enjoy breakfast before visiting Colonial Williamsburg with time to explore the streets, shops and buildings including the Governor's Palace. As a group, we will experience a judicial trial as it would have happened in the 18th century. Learn of the hopes, struggles, and fears of people in these uncertain times. As you explore the challenges of daily life set against the backdrop of revolution, get caught up in the historic moments taking place around you. Sights we will visit include The Wren Building at the College of William and Mary, Bruton Parish Church, The Governor's Palace, and the Capitol. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Day 7, May 2nd: Washington, DC
After breakfast, we will depart for our Nation's Capital, Washington DC. Upon arriving, guests will have the opportunity to explore any number of different restaurants in the Mall area for lunch on own. We will spend the afternoon exploring the newly inaugurated Museum of the Bible, visit the National Archives and see the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. We will finish the tour with a dinner and lecture with your Ligonier Teaching Fellows. |
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Day 8, May 3rd: Departure From Washington, DC
After enjoying a continental breakfast, Sovereign's staff will assist all our valued guests to their departures from DCA. HOTEL: Four Star Accommodations |
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Please Note: Itinerary and speakers are subject to modification without notice. To fully participate in this tour, you must be able to walk long distances, have good balance capabilities and be able to walk on uneven terrain. There will also be some climbing involved as well as long periods of standing. Due to the historical nature of some of our destinations, not all facilities will be ADA compliant. Parents are welcomed to register children above 8 years of age with at least one accompanying adult. We apologize that children under the age of 8 years of age cannot participate in the tour. |