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Tauck

Celebrating America's 250th, An Event Featuring Ken Burns

Tauck

  • Length

    7 Days

  • Quality
    This indicates the overall quality of the tour operator's products. A low rating does not mean it is not good - it just means that it does not include as much, or perhaps is of a more standard quality than the higher quality tours. For example, a 3 star quality rating means that it is a more standard/economical tour, while 5 stars is a very luxurious tour that often includes a lot of amenities.

  • Starts in

    New York City (New York)

  • Ends in

    Washington, D.C.

  • Available Tour Start Dates

    OCT 23, 2026 These are the tour start dates for instances of this tour that were available the last time Tauck sent us such information. There may be other departures for this tour that are not available (i.e. sold out or cancelled).

  • Activity Level

    No Rating Provided These are tours that the vendor has not electronically communicated an activity level for. Contact us if you would like to know the activity level for any of these tours.

  • Style

    Fully-Guided

  • Language

    English

  • Guaranteed Date(s)
    Yes means that there is at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur. No means that there is not at least one tour date that the vendor guarantees will occur, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on each tour in order for each one to occur. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).

    No

Not Available

Overview

From New York's storied avenues to the cobblestone streets of Philadelphia and the grand monuments of Washington, D.C., a special journey honoring the spirit of a nation born in revolution and defined by its ideals. Exclusive events with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson offer a deeper lens on the Revolution's meaning, blending past and present in a celebration two and a half centuries in the making.

Join Tauck for a one-time, seven-day experience through the birthplace of the United States, from New York City to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Stay in landmark hotels including the JW Marriott Essex House, The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, and the Willard InterContinental; attend private talks and receptions with noted historians; and visit the sites where the Revolution unfolded – Washington Crossing, Valley Forge, Independence Hall, and the National Archives after hours. Along the way, history's voices rise again – in the places where Washington took command, where independence was declared, and where the enduring words of liberty are preserved beneath glass. It's a journey through the ideas, places, and people that continue to shape the American story.

Visited During Tour

New York City (New York) | Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) | Washington, D.C.

Dates, Offers & Prices
Tour Itinerary
More Details
Dates, Offers & Prices

There are not currently any Celebrating America's 250th, An Event Featuring Ken Burns tour dates available from Tauck, for the selected year.

There is at least one departure that the vendor is advising is Not Available for the selected year. Click here if you would like to view details regarding such tours.

Start Date  End Date  Bonus Offers From
Pricing listed is per person, based on double occupancy, and is the least expensive price available on this tour date. Price is for the tour only, unless noted otherwise. Additional items, including but not limited to, airfare, travel insurance, and more, are additional.
Guaranteed?
Yes means that that the vendor guarantees that tour date will occur. No means that the vendor does not guarantee the tour will occur on that date, which usually means that the vendor wants a certain amount of reservations on that date in order to confirm it. Of course, the terms and conditions of the vendor do allow for the vendor to cancel guaranteed tour dates for certain reasons (for example, a natural disaster).
Friday Oct 23, 2026 Thursday Oct 29, 2026 Not Available
Yes
(Departure #KAB2026-3534)
Tour Itinerary
Tauck Tour Code KAB2026
View Itinerary Map

Celebrating America's 250th, An Event Featuring Ken Burns

Tauck Tour Code KAB2026

Map of Celebrating America's 250th, An Event Featuring Ken Burns from Tauck
  • Day
    1

    Arrive in New York City

    Tour begins: 4:30 PM, JW Marriott Essex House New York. Welcome to New York City, where your journey through America's Revolutionary story begins. A transfer is included from John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport to JW Marriott Essex House New York, an Art Deco treasure set along Central Park South in the heart of Manhattan. The day is yours to relax, unwind, or take a gentle walk amid the city's unmistakable rhythm – tree-lined paths in the park, the lights of Broadway, or the quiet hum of late afternoon along Fifth Avenue. As evening falls, gather with your Tauck Director and fellow travelers for a private welcome reception and dinner at the hotel. It's a first opportunity to connect, to share anticipation for the days ahead, and to celebrate the beginning of an extraordinary journey through the places and stories that shaped a nation.

    • Meals Included:
    • Dinner
      • Accommodations:  JW Marriott Essex House New York
  • Day
    2

    Ken Burns and Revolutionary New York

    This morning features our keynote event – an exclusive talk with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, whose work has redefined how we see the American story. In an engaging conversation, he shares his perspective on the Revolutionary War and its lasting influence on the nation's identity, offering a glimpse into his upcoming documentary series, The American Revolution. You'll have an opportunity to meet Ken, exchange ideas, and hear how history continues to set a thoughtful tone for the days ahead. Following the presentation, join local guides from Revolutionary Tours NYC who bring you to key sites that tell the story of the city's Revolutionary War history. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you choose. Whether you explore a nearby museum, stroll through Central Park, or simply enjoy the comfort of the hotel, the city offers its own quiet introductions before your journey continues tomorrow. This evening, you have an opportunity to enjoy an optional cultural experience: an evening at the award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, tracing the life and legacy of one of the Revolution's most compelling figures. Enjoy pre-theatre bites and drinks at the hotel before transferring to the theater for the performance. Round-trip transportation is included; additional $470 per person – ask for details at booking.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Accommodations:  JW Marriott Essex House New York
  • Day
    3

    Ten Crucial Days

    Depart New York this morning, tracing the path once taken by General George Washington and his troops through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. Your first stop is Washington Crossing Historic Park, where Washington led his army across the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776 – a daring gamble that turned the tide of the Revolution. Standing along the river's edge, it's easy to imagine the darkness, the wind, and the quiet determination that carried those men forward toward victory at Trenton. Nearby, replicas of the Durham boats used in the crossing evoke the peril and precision of that fateful night, their heavy wooden hulls a tangible reminder of the courage it took to reach the opposite shore. Enjoy lunch at the Washington Crossing Inn, a colonial tavern whose roots date to the 18th century, still welcoming travelers much as it did in Washington's day. Continue on to Valley Forge National Historical Park, where the Continental Army endured the winter of 1777–78. Amid the reconstructed huts and quiet, rolling fields, you'll gain a deeper sense of the endurance and discipline that shaped the Revolution's ultimate success. Your home for the next two nights, The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, occupies the former Girard Trust Company building – a neoclassical landmark, and former bank, crowned by a magnificent domed rotunda modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. Within its marble colonnades, modern elegance meets historic grandeur, setting the stage for an evening devoted to the story of the Revolution itself. This evening, experience the Museum of the American Revolution after hours, when its galleries open privately to Tauck guests. Wander through immersive exhibits and rare artifacts that bring the conflict's human stories to life – soldiers and families, ideals and uncertainty, victory and sacrifice – the very spirit that shaped a nation, each illuminated in the quiet of the museum long after the crowds have gone.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
      • Accommodations:  The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
  • Day
    4

    Philadelphia – Birthplace of a Nation

    A talk by historian Friederike Baer, whose award-winning scholarship explores the lives of the German soldiers who fought alongside the British and the immigrant communities that shaped early Philadelphia, is one of the week's highlights. Her perspective brings depth and dimension to the city's Revolutionary story, revealing a world far more complex than the one found in textbooks. Your day includes guided sightseeing that reveals more of historic Philadelphia, blending gentle walks and short drives through Old City's narrow streets and leafy squares. See landmarks linked to Benjamin Franklin, early print culture, and the city's evolution from colonial capital to industrial powerhouse, including Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. Step into the Assembly Room, where Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin once gathered beneath the tall windows to debate the meaning of liberty and government by the people; the chamber remains almost exactly as they left it. You'll also view Elfreth's Alley, the nation's oldest continuously inhabited residential street.Lunch today is at Reading Terminal Market, a Philadelphia institution since 1893, where stalls brim with Pennsylvania Dutch specialties, fresh seafood, baked goods, and regional favorites that offer an authentic taste of the city's diverse heritage. The evening is at your leisure, with time to dine, stroll, or simply take in the easy rhythm of a city that continues to balance history and modern life with uncommon grace.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Accommodations:  The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia
  • Day
    5

    Annapolis Spirit

    Depart Philadelphia this morning for Annapolis, a city whose narrow streets and harbor views reflect both the maritime traditions and revolutionary history that helped define a nation. In the late 18th century, French warships filled these waters as Lafayette's forces gathered here before the final campaign at Yorktown, and General George Washington later came to Annapolis to resign his military commission – an act that affirmed the very principles of civilian leadership the Revolution had sought to establish. Begin your exploration at the U.S. Naval Academy, where midshipmen train in the spirit of John Paul Jones, the Revolutionary War hero entombed in the crypt beneath the Academy Chapel. A guided tour reveals the Academy's stately grounds, historic halls, and deep connection to America's maritime story. A Tauck Exclusive follows – lunch at the U.S. Naval Academy Club, a setting steeped in naval tradition; typically, only members of the Naval Academy can dine at the club. Continue to the Maryland State House, the nation's oldest state capitol still in legislative use and once the seat of the Continental Congress. In its Old Senate Chamber, Washington delivered his resignation in 1783, and Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris the following year, formally ending the war. Lat afternoon, arrive in Washington, D.C., and settle in at the Willard InterContinental, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece just steps from the White House. Long celebrated as the "Residence of Presidents," the Willard has been the backdrop to countless moments in American history – from Lincoln drafting his inaugural address to Martin Luther King Jr. finalizing words that would echo across generations. Dinner this evening is at the hotel, followed by an illuminated tour of Washington's monuments, where the city's memorials – Jefferson, Lincoln, and those who followed – glow softly against the night, reflections of the ideals of long ago.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
      • Accommodations:  Willard InterContinental, Washington D.C
  • Day
    6

    Washington's Legacy

    Today traces the closing chapters of the Revolution through the life and legacy of its most enduring figure – George Washington. Begin at Mount Vernon, his beloved estate overlooking the Potomac River, where the rhythm of daily life in the 18th century is revealed through the mansion, gardens, and working farm. Inside the house, interpreters share the story of Washington as soldier, statesman, and planter, while the surrounding grounds honor those who lived and labored here, including the enslaved people whose stories are now part of Mount Vernon's interpretation. Much of the Mansion and Education Center at Mount Vernon has been closed for over a year, opening specially for the 250th celebration. Lunch is served at the Mount Vernon Inn, a colonial setting that keeps the past close at hand. This afternoon, continue to Old Town Alexandria, once a thriving port and gathering place for the Revolution's key figures. Here, you may choose between a guided walking tour that follows in the footsteps of Washington, Jefferson, and Lafayette – past Georgian rowhouses, cobblestone streets, and waterfront views – or enjoy free time to explore at your own pace. Browse boutiques along King Street, visit the Torpedo Factory Art Center, or simply pause for coffee beside the river before returning to Washington, D.C. This evening, a memorable finale awaits with exclusive after-hours access to the National Archives. In the quiet of the closed building, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson offers his reflections on leadership, legacy, and the Revolution's lasting impact. A private reception and farewell dinner follow beneath the Rotunda, where the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights rest beneath soft light – an extraordinary setting to conclude your journey through the story of America.

    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
      • Accommodations:  Willard InterContinental, Washington D.C
  • Day
    7

    Journey home

    Tour ends: Washington, D.C. A transfer is included from Willard InterContinental, Washington, D.C. to Washington Union Station, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, or Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.


    • Meals Included:
    • Breakfast
More Details

Tauck is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Celebrating America's 250th, An Event Featuring Ken Burns tour:

Tauck Values

The following is being included by Tauck on this tour:

  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the JW Marriott Essex House, New York, in the hotel's Grand and Petit Salons overlooking Central Park South 
  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Private talk and meet-and-greet with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, sharing insights into his upcoming documentary series The American Revolution
  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – After-hours reception and dinner at the Museum of the American Revolution, with full gallery access and costumed interpreters bringing history to life
  •  TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Exclusive evening at the National Archives, including a private lecture by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Rick Atkinson and a farewell dinner beneath the Rotunda surrounded by America's founding documents
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