Showing results by author "Maureen Reigh Quinn" in All Categories

The National Mall in Washington, DC, is home to the world-renowned Smithsonian Museums and millions of visitors each year come to view the vast collections held here—however—they rarely look at the OUTSIDE of the buildings, and most know very little of the history of this place called the National Mall. BrightPath Tours would like to change that! With Part I of our Walk Around the National Mall, we will stop at each of the buildings on the South side of the Mall and we'll discuss a variety of topics that includes the history of each site.

We'll continue the discussions we started in Part I, highlighting the history of the buildings, how they were built, and who bankrolled the projects—then we'll conclude with a look at some of the very modern elements that characterize the new museums of today. Starting at the National Gallery of Art East building, we’ll walk down the Mall towards the Washington Monument and we'll end the tour at the National Museum of African-American History and Culture—a stunning museum and one of the newest in DC.

If you're visiting DC and don't have a lot of time for a tour, try one of BrightPathTours mini-tours. They're under an hour but they pack plenty of history, stories, and intriguing tidbits! This tour of the President's Neighbors is made up of only three stops but we’re visiting three of the most imposing and historic buildings in Washington, DC: the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the White House, and the United States Treasury Building.

Welcome to BrightPathTours tour of LaFayette Square! On this tour, you'll see some of the earliest formal residences built in Washington, DC, and we’ll talk about some of the buildings that are long gone as well as many of the people—famous and notorious—who lived here. The tour starts near the White House, at Blair House, the President's 70,000-square-foot guest house! If you think that's impressive, wait 'til you hear some of the stories of the people who lived and worked here—all "Social Influencers" of their time! Join us as we walk all the way around this historic square.

Welcome to BrightPathTours' mini-tour of LaFayette Park! Our tour begins at the LaFayette Monument, one of five major monuments that honor individuals for their service to America. LaFayette Park has existed from the time the White House was built and four of the monuments here pay tribute to the men who came from France, Poland, and Germany to aid in America's fight for independence. This tour will lead you around this beautiful park while we discuss the many contributions of the men who fought alongside the likes of Henry Knox, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington himself.

The Ellipse is one small area in front of the South Lawn of the White House. Although we don't have to cross a single street, this tour is a BIG challenge. Instead of the open areas similar to the National Mall, this is a very enclosed, highly secured part of DC. We're lucky to be able to tour here! Your host, BrightPath Tours, will lead you through this historic area where we'll see some of DC's lesser-known monuments and memorials, including the Boy Scout Memorial and the Zero Mile Marker.

Looking for a break from all of the monuments and museums in Washington, DC? Your host, BrightPath Tours, will take you for a walk along one of the most famous streets in the United States: Pennsylvania Avenue. Walk at your own pace, on your own schedule! We start where Pennsylvania Avenue meets 15th Street, at Pershing Park and the WWI Memorial, where we'll see the memorial to General John "Blackjack" Pershing. Along the route, we’ll see some of the smaller monuments, including one to the man nobody remembers, Boss Shepherd, who remade Washington, DC into the city we enjoy today!

Looking for a different tour of Washington, DC? Your host, BrightPath Tours, will take you for a walk along one of the most famous streets in the United States: Constitution Avenue. Walk at your own pace, on your own schedule! This tour begins at Constitution Avenue and 22nd Street, at the Einstein Memorial. Along the route, we’ll see buildings that house world leaders in science, finance, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief efforts. The tour ends at the headquarters of the American Red Cross, which honors the founders of this world-renowned relief organization.

Of all the places to visit in Manhattan, the southern tip of the island is the most historic. BrightPath Tours welcomes you to our tour of Lower Manhattan! Here you'll find the city's oldest chapel—and its first skyscrapers. Here you'll see the street that began as a barrier, extending from river to river. Today that street is known as Wall Street. Our main tour route is the old trading path that wended its way from the very bottom to the very top of Manhattan Island.

In part two of our tour of Colonial Williamsburg, we step back in time once again to get a closer look at the picturesque town and the fascinating residents who lived and worked here. On this tour we leave the elegant mansions behind and visit with the merchants, the tradesmen, and the artisans who created the everyday fabric of this historic community. We're starting at one of the earliest churches in Virginia, Bruton Parish Church.

The Colonial Williamsburg you are visiting is literally a window to the past where we can see in detail the thriving town that served as the capital of Virginia for 80 years. In part one we begin our tour at one of the famous taverns that served the men we know today as our Founding Fathers. Along our tour route, we'll see shops that still provide colonial-era goods. We'll also visit some of the public buildings where the innocent and guilty had their days in court—and where Blackbeard's pirates were jailed!

In part two we walk the old waterfront that was once home to some of the most prosperous businesses in the country. We'll then visit some of the historic churches and the homes of some of the town's well-known inhabitants. While we walk the streets that George and Martha Washington frequented, we'll continue our discussion of Old Town Alexandria as an early American town and hear more stories of the people who worked to make the town—and our country—a place of prosperity and patriotism!

Established in the mid-1700s, Old Town Alexandria is an early American town steeped in the history of America's first settlers, military leaders, politicians, and churchmen. See the places where these early Americans lived, worked, and socialized and hear many of their stories - the very stories that you'd expect from a place that produced our first President! Within this historic framework, visitors will also find modern conveniences that will make for a most enjoyable experience!

Planning a visit to Washington DC? Let your host, BrightPath Tours, take you on a walking tour of the Grand Monuments of Washington DC! Tour on your own schedule and walk at your own pace as BrightPath Tours guides you from site to site. If you don’t have a lot of time, this tour will fit your schedule perfectly! During this short tour, we visit three of the most popular of the Washington, DC monuments that reside at the west end of the National Mall. This tour starts at the Lincoln Memorial.

Planning a visit to Washington DC? Let your host, BrightPath Tours, take you on a walking tour of the Grand Monuments of Washington DC! Tour on your own schedule and walk at your own pace as BrightPath Tours guides you from site to site. On this tour, we visit the seven large monuments that reside around the National Mall. This tour starts at the Washington Monument. After that, we’ll walk to WWII, Lincoln, and the Vietnam memorials. We’ll end at the Korea War Veterans Memorial.

On this tour, we cross the Potomac River and visit the four major monuments that reside in Arlington, VA. This tour starts at the Pentagon Metro & Bus station. From the Metro station, we’ll walk to the Pentagon Memorial. After Pentagon, we’ll visit the Air Force Memorial, we’ll walk through Arlington Cemetery then visit the Netherlands Carillon, and we’ll end at the Marine Corps Memorial, better known as the Iwo Jima Monument. Along the way, you'll hear stories about the monuments, some history of Washington, DC, and the story of Arlington Cemetery.

Planning a visit to Washington, DC? Let your host, BrightPath Tours, take you on a walking tour of the grand monuments of Washington, DC! Tour on your own schedule and walk at your own pace as BrightPath Tours guides you from site to site.

Richmond, VA, is one of the oldest cities in Virginia, and it has been the state capital since the late 1700s. Franklin Street has long been one of the city’s most important—and most beautiful—streets. This is where many industrialists—including the tobacco merchants—built their homes. We’re starting at the grandest and most historic hotel in town, the Jefferson Hotel. Built by one of Richmond’s wealthiest tobacco merchants, the Jefferson has stood for over 100 years and has catered to the famous, the infamous—and a few alligators!

Boston has long been world-renowned for its history and the role it played during the American Revolution. Today, it combines that history with one of the finest park systems in the country and BrighPath Tours is pleased to take you on a tour of its earliest park, the Boston Public Garden. Besides the many beautiful and historic plantings throughout, the Garden is home to the famous Swan Boats and a collection of monuments and memorials that date from before the Civil War all the way up to the 20th century.