NEW Experience Annapolis’ role in the sweep of American history, first with a guided walking tour of the Naval Academy’s majestic buildings, stunning views and the impressive Noon Formation (weather permitting.) After lunch on your own in the quaint harbor area, tour the Maryland State House. Embodying 400 years of history it was the first peacetime capitol of the U.S. where General Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief, the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and the U.S. first diplomatic appointment was made sending Thomas Jefferson to France. Please note the walking/standing scale for this activity is 3 FEET which means Extensive Walking and Lengthy Periods of Standing.

NEW Throughout its history, Christianity has demanded that its believers must subscribe to certain very complex doctrines. At no time in the history of the Christian Church, however, has anything resembling universal agreement on church doctrine existed. Examine these differences (some might regard as tempests in a teacup) which resulted in ruckus arguments, excommunications, and in some cases fiery death.

IN PERSON Read Homer's Odyssey in English translation. The epic poem explores many themes, including the psychological difficulties of returning home from war, the importance of trust in human relationships and the role of storytelling in human life. While many of the stories are familiar, find some of the less well-known parts quite interesting and surprising. The Robert Fitzgerald translation is recommended.

NEW Despite his controversial status, Hemingway and his innovative writing style and larger-than-life persona have left an indelible mark on modern literature. He showed that “the best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.”

NEW From the meditative writings of Thoreau, to the Gothic and Romantic genre explorations of Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville, to the poetic experimentation of Whitman and Dickinson, the mid-nineteenth century saw a group of authors forge an exciting new American literary identity. Through readings and lively discussions, investigate this pioneering movement that ended up shaping our national literature for generations.

NEW Under William Penn’s "Holy Experiment," Philadelphia became a sanctuary where diverse faiths didn't just coexist - they shaped the moral and intellectual landscape of a new nation. These walking tours take you through the cobblestone streets where the fight for spiritual and civil liberty intertwined. Discover how the nation's founding documents were influenced by our city's religious and cultural diversity: believers, dissenters, and reformers who demanded a society built on conscience. Entrance to venues subject to availability. (3 Feet: Extensive Walking and Lengthy Periods of Standing.)

South of Market: Old St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Mother Bethel A.M.E., Washington Square, Carpenter's Hall and more.

NEW What better time to rediscover Beethoven than now, the upcoming 200th anniversary of his death. Trace his journeyman years mastering the style of Haydn and Mozart, his revolutionary middle period inspired by Napoleon, and the spiritualism of his last years. For newbies and connoisseurs, Beethoven will reanimate your listening with musical demonstrations, spectacular video performances, and large dollops of humor.

NEW A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and a photographer, Welty’s texts offer insightful, clever, and realistic portrayals of life in the American south. Her work is often characterized by its modernist techniques, sharp wit, and profound understanding of human relationships. Read, view, and discuss a collection of Welty’s short stories and depression-era photographs, along with her philosophy that the act of writing is a "continuous thread of revelation" and “a process of becoming.”