Visit the house where George Washington, first President of the US and commander of the Continental Army, was born and spent his early years. The house burned in 1779 although its foundation survived. The home was rebuilt in the 1930's and now contains pieces from the Colonial era.

The site offers tours for school group as well as Virginia SOL-based educational programs (grades K-7). In addition to history education programs the site also offers environmental education programs on grounds. Outreach programs can be arranged during the winter months. Curriculum materials can be downloaded free of charge for teachers to use both before and after their visit.

The De Soto National Memorial commemorates Spaniard Hernando de Soto's (circa 1496-1542) 1539 arrival at Tampa Bay. Following the landing, de Soto and his men encountered, and in some cases fought, local Native American groups over the course of four years. Collections include historic arms and armor. Between December and April, the site offers re-enactments and demonstrations at Camp Uzita.

The park offers a 22-minute introductory film, exhibits, helmets and armor for guests to try on, guided walking tours, nature trails with interpretive signage and wayside exhibits, 40-minute outreach presentations, Junior Ranger activities, Junior Ranger camps, and a picnic area. The website offers a suggested reading list.

The Hovenweep National Monument consists of six prehistoric ancestral Puebloan villages on an expanse of 26 miles of land. The site was first inhabited more than 10,000 years ago by a farming people. The eventual abandonment of the villages is believed to have been instigated by a lengthy drought.

The monument offers talks, guided walks, interpretive programming, and Junior Ranger activities. Guided walks and interpretive programs are only available for groups and with advance notice. The website offers field trip plans.

"Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves one of America's most significant and fascinating cultural and historic areas. Chaco Canyon was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between AD 850 and 1250. It was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area - unlike anything before or since."

Self-guided hikes and bus/car tours are available. Group camping is also an option for school groups. Curriculum materials can be downloaded and are suggested for use before your visit.

The Bandelier National Monument site contains dwellings and petroglyphs from the Ancestral Pueblo who lived in the area between 1150 and 1550. Spanish colonists inhabited the site beginning circa 1750. The 1.2-mile main trail winds through excavated archaeological sites. Visitor Center exhibits address Ancestral Pueblo life and compare it to the life of the modern Pueblo.

The monument offers a 10-minute introductory film, exhibits, guided walks, demonstrations, summer camps, a traveling trunk, books and videos for loan to educators, educational kits for use on site by fifth grade students, Junior Ranger activities, more than 70 miles of trails, outdoor activities, and a picnic area. Demonstrations occur on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Written guides to the main trail are available in Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Braille, and large print. Wheelchair accessibility is limited. The website offers lesson plans, animal fact sheets, and PowerPoint presentations.

The Hot Springs National Park preserves the history surrounding Hot Springs, Arkansas. The area has been a destination for individuals of all classes seeking relaxation and revitalization of health for more than 200 years. Sights include the historic Fordyce Bathhouse, in operation between 1915 and 1962, and the springs themselves.

The park offers a 15-minute introductory film, guided tours, guided tours for students, self-guided tours, traveling trunks, Junior Ranger activities, scenic mountain roads, a 9-minute film depicting the traditional bath routine, the opportunity to take a bath in the hot springs, 26 miles of trails, and picnic sites. The NPS warns that many sites in the area claim to be the Hot Springs National Park but are not. When hiking, visitors are asked to remain on the trails. Group tours require at least two weeks advance notice. Architectural models are available for visually impaired visitors. An American Sign Language interpreter can be on site for tours if requested at the time tour reservations are made. The website offers lesson plans.

The Homestead National Monument of America addresses the impact of the Homestead Act of 1862 on agriculture, Native Americans, national land policy, the prairies, industrialization, and immigration. Sights include the 1872 one-room Freeman School, Heritage Center, Education Center, 1867 Palmer Epard Cabin, and restored tallgrass prairie. The cabin presents post-Civil War homestead life. The Freeman School has been restored to an 1870s appearance. Under the Homestead Act, anyone 21 or over and/or the head of a household could claim 160 acres of previously federally owned land as their own private property.

The monument offers an introductory film, interactive exhibits, Freeman School guided tours, trails, curriculum-based programs for students, Scout programs, interactive demonstrations, distance learning opportunities, and Junior Ranger activities. The school is open for tours on request. Classes can host a day of lessons within the Freeman School. The website offers historical photographs, videos of farming demonstrations, audio files of Abraham Lincoln's words, a curriculum guide, a math activity booklet, a coloring book, dot-to-dot activities, and a suggested reading list for students.

Alcatraz Island presents the site of the first West Coast lighthouse and fort, built 1853; the site of a former major federal prison (1934-1963); and the history of the island's 18-month occupation by Native American rights activists (1969-1971). Alcatraz is now a national bird sanctuary. During its prison years, Alcatraz hosted difficult inmates from prisons around the nation, perpetrators of predatory crimes, and Native American prisoners. The Native American occupation began as a symbolic repossessing of ancestral land. Demands for a university, cultural center, and museum were never met. However, the occupation led to greater national recognition of Native American interests.

The site offers a brief orientation, a film on the Native American occupation, other films, exhibits, and an audio tour of the cellhouse's penitentiary period. Evening visits offer guided tours and history narration while aboard the ferry. Day trips lean toward a self-guided experience, while evening trips offer more guided opportunities. The cellhouse audio tour is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian. Videos are captioned, a shuttle can transport visitors otherwise unable to reach the cellhouse, and transcriptions of the audio tour are available. The National Park Service recommends purchasing ferry tickets at least one week in advance. The website offers an extensive virtual exhibit.