USA History & Politics Trip

Date Posted: 20th October 2025

Wishing our History and Politics students & staff the very best of luck as they embark on the trip of a lifetime to New York City and Washington, D.C.!

Safe travels — we can’t wait to follow along with your updates!

Day 1 – USA History & Politics Trip

After an early start from Dublin, our group landed safely in New York City!

Our fantastic tour guide, John Gallagher, shared fascinating insights into the city’s history as we made our way from JFK.

Highlights of the day included a walk through Central Park, the bright lights of Times Square (with a stop at the TikTok-famous Raising Cane’s

), exploring the Rockefeller Center — complete with the world-famous ice rink and FAO Schwarz toy store — and finishing the night at the Empire State Building, taking in breathtaking views of the NYC skyline by night.

A huge first day — 22 hours on the move and 26,000 steps later — and what an incredible start to our American adventure!

Day 2 – USA History & Politics Trip

An early start for breakfast in a classic American diner, The Morning Star Café, set us up perfectly for the day ahead before we explored Brooklyn and Downtown Manhattan.

We hopped on the subway to meet our fantastic tour guides, Derek and Mary, at the New York Supreme Court, before walking across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. Along the way, they shared fascinating insights into the city’s history and architecture.

Highlights included a walk through Brooklyn Heights — complete with a world-famous pizza stop

— followed by a ferry ride back to Wall Street, where we saw the famous Charging Bull and learned how it came to symbolise the financial heart of New York.

Our afternoon was spent at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum — a moving and powerful experience. As staff, we recalled our own memories of where we were that day, 24 years ago, while our students reflected on an event that shaped the modern world. Through artefacts, preserved audio, and detailed exhibits, they gained a first-hand understanding of the impact and timeline of 9/11 — a key topic in their Year 12 GCSE History Unit 2, ‘International Relations, 1945–2003’.

Our guide Mary reminded us of Mark Twain’s words: “History doesn’t always repeat itself, but it rhymes.”

USA History & Politics Trip – Day 3

We began our morning with breakfast at The Morning Star before heading downtown to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86 in New York City.

The museum, centred on the historic aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, features the space shuttle Enterprise, the Growler nuclear-armed submarine, and an incredible collection of aircraft — including a Concorde supersonic jet — alongside fascinating exhibits on history, science, and technology.

The USS Intrepid saw service in the War in the Pacific, in Vietnam, and was later involved in the U.S. Space Program of the 1950s and 60s. Our students explored the inner workings of the carrier, visited a submarine that was part of the Intrepid fleet, and saw first-hand the planes and weaponry that played a part in its remarkable story.

A highlight of the visit was meeting U.S. veterans, including a former Navy submariner, who now work and volunteer at the museum. They shared personal insights into their own service and experiences.

In the afternoon, we made the five-hour journey to Washington, D.C., where we’re looking forward to spending the next two days exploring the U.S. capital!

USA History & Politics Trip – Day 4

Another superb day for our students as we toured the monuments and landmarks of Washington D.C. with our fantastic guides, Judy and Joan.

From the White House to the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, the World War I & II Memorials, The Capitol Building, U.S. Supreme Court, and Library of Congress — our pupils experienced American history come to life at every stop.

In the afternoon, we had the incredible privilege of meeting with staffers Zack, Ben, and Courtney for Congressmen Bill Keating, Richie Neal, and Mike Lawler in the Rayburn Building — a rare opportunity, especially with the government still in shutdown.

A Q&A session in the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Room gave our students valuable insight into U.S. politics and global affairs — an unforgettable experience that left a real mark on everyone.

31,163 steps later, it’s safe to say we truly experienced Washington D.C. at its best!

#AbbeyCBS #HistoryAndPoliticsTrip #WashingtonDC #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #OnceInALifetime