NEW Begin at George Washington’s estate on the Potomac, home to some of the most storied moments in American history where you’ll tour the grounds and mansion, followed by a three-course lunch at the Historic Mt. Vernon Inn. Then travel to the Woodlands Hotel in Colonial Williamsburg and where your light dinner will be followed by a special presentation: “Colonial Clothing and Life,” by MLSN instructor Kyra Zapf. On the second day choose your own adventure in the historic district: observe trades demonstrations, browse authentic colonial shops, and engage with costumed interpreters who bring the past to life. You’ll savor a memorable dinner at a historic tavern enjoying both authentic colonial ambiance and cuisine. On the way home the next day, stop in the Historic District of Occoquan — a picturesque 18th-century riverside mill town now famous for its thriving artisan community and unique shops.

From its sacred heights to its civic institutions, Athens has played an important role in Western history. Explore the enduring power and influence of ancient Athens through the city’s archaeology, including the peak of the Acropolis with its monumental temples and its slopes dotted with theaters, the civic Agora, and the Panathenaic stadium. Devin Lawson,

For millennia, humans have shaped three-dimensional space to tell stories, express the soul, and capture the imagination. Follow the evolution of Western sculpture from ancient stone to modern pop art, exploring how changing materials, techniques, and themes directly reflected societal shifts. Among the works considered will be Myron’s The Disc Thrower, Donatello’s David, Rodin’s The Burghers of Calais, Giacometti’s Walking Man and Koons’ Balloon Dog.

NEW Using their combined backgrounds in folklore, folk art, and the fine arts, the Blyn sisters will re-examine the work of Henri Rousseau for those who may have missed the phenomenal exhibit at Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation. Is this art "true naïve," "faux-naïve" or "academic?" For those who did attend, we can share our recollections.

In the mid-19th century, the landscape was North American artists’ dominant painting theme and Frederic Edwin Church was its undisputed star. Church created monumental, scientifically precise, and deeply dramatic visions of dramatic scenery. Consider his legacy through a contemporary lens—along with other Hudson River School artists. Discover how these artists blended natural science with glimpses of vanishing cultures and learn how this style represented Manifest Destiny and played a part in tourism.

Once considered one of the greatest military rivals of the Romans, Carthage was a major commercial and cultural center in the Mediterranean long before the rise of Rome. Explore the history and archaeology of this magnificent Tunisian metropolis from its 9th-century BCE Phoenician roots to its 7th-century CE Roman twilight. Discover how these ancient ruins illuminate our understanding of Carthaginian identity, language, religion, and the legendary wars that shook the ancient world.

Explore the concept of beauty not as an individual choice, but as a system of social control and economics. Drawing on the insights of female artists and feminist thinkers, discuss how "beauty" is marketed and mandated. At a time when many long-held feminist gains—both legal and cultural—seem on the brink of being lost, see how representations of the female body are used to challenge status quos and highlight themes of displacement and identity. Look at how the aesthetic standard confines us, and what it takes to break free.

In 1883, Claude Monet settled in the village of Giverny, transforming a simple farmhouse into a living canvas. Explore how Monet’s immersion in his famous gardens sparked a radical evolution in his style, moving from traditional Impressionism toward the boundaries of modern abstraction.