National Archives + American History Museum Tour - Semi-Private | 5 hours 30 minutes

55 Reviews | Washington DC
Likely To Sell Out
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 6 travelers in total.
Adult (18-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 6
2
Youth (10-17) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 6
0
Child (0-9) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 6
0
Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
UPGRADE AS PRIVATE TOUR 10AM
2 Adults x $1,049.40
$2,098.80
Approx Total
$2,098.80
Private Walking Tour & Museum Tour; Professional Tour Guide Exclusively For You; Duration 5 - 5.5 Hours (Including Lunch Break); Private Transportation Included Between Tour Locations
SEMI-PRIVATE 8ppl Max. English
2 Adults x $174.90
$349.80
Approx Total
$349.80
"Semi-Private" Means Group Size Is Never More Than 8 Guests Maximum This option NOT FOR WHEELCHAIRS.

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Semi-Private Walking Tour & Museum Tour
  • Duration 5.5 Hours (Including A Lunch Break)
  • Tour Will Run, Rain Or Shine
  • Professional Tour Guide
  • Semi-Private" Means Group Size Is Never More Than 8 Guests Maximum
  • Tour price does NOT include hotel pickup or drop-off (we recommend UBER or Taxi)
  • Tour price does NOT include gratuities (optional)
  • Tour is NOT available for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair

Overview

This 5.5 hour Semi-Private (8 Guest Max.) guided combo tour welcomes guests to skip-the-line and experience the two “must see” museums in Washington DC. This is the best way to explore the experiment that is the United States of America! Start with our founding document and end with an exploration of what has happened since. Our guides provide stories, context, and anecdotes for the dynamic results. Highlights often include (but are not limited to): -The original Declaration of Independence -The Constitution -The Bill of Rights -1297 Magna Carta -Lincoln’s Top Hat -First Ladies exhibit -Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers -Star-Spangled Banner

Meeting points

Meet your guide on the corner of 9th Street NW and Constitution Ave. 

End point

Open in Google Maps

Itinerary

  • The National Archives Museum

    This is the best way to skip-the-line and save time, to explore the experiment that is the United States of America! Start with the original handwritten “Charters of Freedom” housed in their spectacular Rotunda. Your guide will narrate the extraordinary circumstances that brought this nation into existence. No trip to the US Capital city is complete without a visit to the National Archives. Surround yourself with documents and paintings that offer both depth and nuance to the period that founded the United States of America. And at Babylon we take it a step farther. In the Rubenstein Gallery, go even deeper into the philosophical foundations by viewing a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta. Your guide will encourage you to explore the concept of citizenship, what it means and how the criteria for those included have evolved from a declaration which stated “all men are created equal”.

    2 hours

  • National Museum of American History

    After a break to ponder the complexity of history (and grab a bite) your guide will lead you to the Smithsonian American History Museum. This museum is a caretaker for an incredible blend of scholarly history and pop culture whose memories create a unique bond among the people who experienced them. Your guide will introduce you to the most famous items in the collection, like the flag that flew over Ft McHenry inspiring the poem that was eventually adapted into the National Anthem. Featured too is the most visited exhibition in the history of the Smithsonian: the First Ladies exhibit. While you’re there, see why the most requested artifact is Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers — displayed not too far from the top hat Abraham Lincoln wore that fateful night to Ford’s Theatre. Your guide will provide stories and background to expand on the reason these items (out of hundreds of thousands in the collection) serve as living touchstones for the concept we call the United States of America.

    2 hours 30 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
  • A maximum of 8 people per tour allowed
  • Minimum numbers apply. This tour will not run without a minimum of 2 guests to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
  • Notes: The National Archives & American History Museum and other attractions or museums in London may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' or 'No Wait' access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.

Free Cancellation

June 18100% refund
June 19No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.9

55 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    54
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    1
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 54 reviews with 5 stars

BEST TOUR GUIDE! Thank you Brenda!

Published on Dec, 2024

Ms. Brenda did an excellent job! Very engaging, knowledgeable, impeccable communication and PATIENT. I would definitely love to have her give us tours elsewhere, if available. She loves what she does, and it shows.

American Time Travel

Published on Dec, 2024

This tour was amazingly inspiring and educational. Our tour guide Annemarie was knowledgeable, friendly and overall passionate of what she does. I appreciated the time she spent with us and answering our questions and not making us feel bad when we didn’t know the answer. We need more people like Annemarie to teach our American history.

Informative, fascinating tour!

Published on Nov, 2024

Tour review I am so grateful that I got to see the National Archives for the first time with Annemarie! She was friendly and knowledgeable, and gave us just the right amount of context and explanation for the things we were seeing. Plus, she peppered it with some interesting facts you wouldn’t always get from a history book. Most interesting to me was what she told us about the murals in the Rotunda. Without her there, I wouldn’t know how to interpret what I was seeing, and I would just look at it as two stately paintings. I wouldn’t have learned about the choices the artist made and combined it with the real history. The tour felt like it went by quickly! Annemarie is really knowledgeable, friendly, and has a nice speaking voice and demeanor…you never feel like you’re being lectured, instead you feel like you’re learning interesting things from a like-minded friend. 10/10 recommend!! Also appreciated skipping the line, maximizing our time there!

Really great tour Annemarie

Published on Nov, 2024

Fabulous trip, Annmarie was so interesting and knowledgeable, we learned so much. I would strongly recommend anybody going to the national archive take this tour. Without it, you will miss so much.

Great tour with Maribeth

Published on Oct, 2024

Great tour with Maribeth, great to get the history behind these super historical documents, plus a few extras in the museum section. Thank you Maribeth!

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