Right now on our full-time RV trip, my family is roadschooling through American history.
One of the great parts of living full-time in an RV is the opportunity to see new places. As we planned out our year of travel I was excited to show my kids some of the American History sites in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC and to teach them a bit about how the United States of America got its start.
Before we even went to these places, however, I got some learning materials that I knew my kids would enjoy. Specifically School House Rock.
American History Books and Videos for Kids
School House Rock Election Collection
Call me nostalgic, but I learned more about the US government from School House Rock old school cartoon music videos than I care to admit. I figured if they worked for me, they’d work for my kids. And I was right.
My kids love watching our School House Rock Election Collection DVD over and over and over. I’m sick of the songs by now, but I tell you what, they are effective. Big E, Little G and even three-year-old Baby L have learned:
My kids love watching our School House Rock Election Collection DVD over and over and over. I’m sick of the songs by now, but I tell you what, they are effective. Big E, Little G and even three-year-old Baby L have learned:
- to sing the preamble to the Constitution,
- the three branches of the government,
- who drafted the Declaration of Independence,
- what happened at the battle of Bunker Hill,
- that the 19th Ammendent allowed women to vote,
- important inventions that contributed to the industrial revolution,
- what the electoral collage is,
- and more.
Before visiting the historical sites in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC, we watched the School House Rock Election Collection DVD several times. We also listened to these audiobooks while driving, or read these books as part of roadschooling. It gave a great background to the places we then visited.
Psst..The links here are affiliate links so I get a small commission if you purchase something after clicking them. Please do so. I could use all the gas money we can get.
Or if you are a cheapskate like me you can check out most of these titles at your local library and download it to your device through overdrive.com. It’s the best and it’s free.
I Survived: The American Revolution,1776 by Lauren Tarshis
Guts and Glory: The American Revolution by Ben Thompson
They Made a Revolution by Jules Archer
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (predates the American Revolution by about 100 years and is awesome).
We also researched our family history on FamilySearch.org. It was exciting to learn about my 5thor 6th Great Grandfather Moses Curtis and his Brother-in-law Captain William Meacham – one of the minutemen officers killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Finally, we participated (as we always do) in the Junior Ranger programs at the National Historical Parks in Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC. I’ve found that we all learn so much from these – not just the kids, me and Mountain Dad too. They’re great roadschooling programs and they are totally free.
Boston’s Freedom Trail
Our first US History stop was Boston. This is fitting since Boston is where the American Revolution first came to blows.
Now, there are lots of great museums and places to visit near Boston including:
- the Minutemen National Park in nearby Lexington/Concord
- Walden Pond – not an Amerrican Revolution site but a good stop for anybody who has read Henry David Thoureau
- Plymouth Rock south of Boston, where the Mayflower first landed
But the place I was most eager to visitwas the Boston National Historical Park. This National Park is awesome. It connects American history sites throughout old Boston town on a 2.2 mile path called the Freedom Trail.
This freedom trail is marked on the ground throughout the city with a double row of red bricks or a double red painted line on the sidewalk. It travels to places like the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Charleston Navy Yard and the Bunker Hill monument. Along the way there are museums that are great, but the stops we liked most were boats – the USS Constitution and the USS Cassin Young.
The USS Constitution is the longest commissioned navy ship in operation. And it’s masted, wooden glory is open to tours. We got to see how soldiers in the war of 1812 would have lived and worked on the three masted beast. The great cannons, ropes, sails and wheel let us feel what early soldiers would’ve felt.
We also got to visit a WWII Destroyer, the USS Cassin Young. My tots (and husband) moved the missile guns, much like Mountain Dad’s uncle would’ve done. His uncle was lost at sea on a destroyer ship during WWII.
I really enjoyed visiting the Boston National Historical Park in Boston Harbor and following the Freedom Trail with my kids and my online friend Kelly from WikeBaby.com.
I loved how exploring Boston connected me to our nation’s past. This is the place the famous Boston Tea Party was held. Here was the Bunker Hill Monument where Col. Prescott ordered his men not to shoot until they saw the whites of the eyes of the British forces. The beginning of modern democracy began here. And I’m grateful.
Philadelphia’s Independence Hall
The next stop on our US History Tour was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the site I most looked forward to visiting since Independence Hall is the place the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. I visited once before about five years ago and looked forward to having my kids actually remember it this time.
In addition to Independence Hall, you can see the famous Liberty Bell, visit the Constitution Museum, tour the US Mint, explore Benjamin Franklin’s hometown and see the printing press museum downtown.
Similar to Boston, Philadelphia has several museums and places to visit that are well worth your time. We focused on visiting the Independence National Historical Park.
If you’re planning on visiting this famous place where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed, get there early. You must have tickets to tour Independence Hall, which you must get in person at the Visiting Center on site.
Unfortunately for us, we did not get there early enough for tickets, which totally bummed me out. Since we couldn’t get tickets we planned to just see the Liberty Bell and visit the other rooms in Independence Hall, like the first chambers of the United States Supreme Court and executive offices. Nerd side note – isn’t it cool how this one building represents all three branches of the federal government – Judicial, Legislative and Executive?
So after seeing the Liberty Bell, we ate a picnic and then stood in a one hour security line just to get close to the Independence Hall. Once my tots and I passed through security, a park ranger came to our rescue and let us join the tour that was just entering the main hall, even though I didn’t have tickets! I love the kindness of strangers.
Independence Hall stirred my heart. After learning about George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and more, I imagined them sitting in this room, discussing ideas that would change the course of history. Shushing my three-year-old, holding her up to see, and worrying about how my kids behaved was totally worth it. Being in Independence Hall made me feel proud to be an American.
Washington DC with Kids
The final stop on our US History tour was Washington DC itself. We got to visit with cousins while sightseeing and loved it.
The National Mall is home to the Congress Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, War Memorials, Smithsonian museum of Natural History, Museum of the American Indian, National Archives and more.
With so much to see and learn about, we prioritized visiting the National Archives. Why? To get a glimpse of the actual Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution.
These famous documents lay in the rotunda of the National Archives. I smiled at the sight of Benjamin Franklin’s signature, the yellowed paper that changed the course of history, and the opportunity that my family had to be there. This visit to the National Archives was the epitome of US History tour for me.
The purpose of this full time RV journey is to see new things, but here as we stood looking at the old documents that created a new democracy. It was beautiful.
