On Friday, April 17 the Eagle Eye staff and the Duel Enrollment US History class couldn’t be found in their classrooms writing stories or reading about the downfall of Joseph McCarthy because they were busy sight seeing in our nation’s capital.

The trip was organized and chaperoned by Eagle Eye adviser Todd Cammarata and US history teacher Suzy Burket.  Also accompanying the group was Miss Cathy Rogers, a pre-service student teacher from Penn State University.

The itinerary for the trip included viewing monuments, taking a ride on the DC subway and visiting some of DC’s most famous museums.

The group started their day with a walk through the FDR and Jefferson Memorials. Students were also lucky enough to see the the famous Japanese cherry blossoms in bloom next to the tidal basin. Although the flowers peaked the week before, they were still quite beautiful and the weather was a perfect 75 degrees and sunny.

“My favorite thing about the trip were the cherry blossoms,” said freshman Kathleen Cempa, “I even bought a pair of cherry blossom earrings.”

The group then got back on the tour bus which took them up Independence Avenue to the National Botanical Gardens.  The group spent about 45 minutes touring the gardens and taking photos of the beautiful flowers and foliage.

From the Botanical Gardens the group then walked up Capital Hill past the US Congress. The students stopped to tour the Library of Congress to view the impressive architecture, the exhibits and main reading room.

They then proceed to their lunch destination at Union Station, a very architecturally impressive train station that was once the largest room in the United States.  On the way they passed the US Supreme Court and several Senate office buildings.

After their break at Union Station’s food court the students took the subway to the Federal Triangle where they split into two groups.  Some students toured the Smithsonian Natural History Museum while others went to the American History Museum before they met back up for final stop of the day, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

After an hour and a half long tour of the Holocaust museum, the students boarded the bus for home at about 6:00 pm.  After a stop for dinner, they returned home at about 11:00 pm.

“I really enjoyed riding the subway,” remarked sophomore, Haley Butina, ” It was a new experience for me, and it’s something you can’t do in Tyrone.”

Overall the trip was very successful and enjoyable for both first time visitors and DC veterans.