Fifty Jackson Academy eighth graders recently discovered that history feels different when you’re standing in it. During four intensive days in Washington, D.C., students explored the nation’s capital through museums, monuments, and meaningful encounters that transformed textbook lessons into tangible experiences.
The trip’s most touching moment came at Arlington National Cemetery, where students participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Standing with a U.S. Army unit called The Old Guard against a backdrop of autumn foliage, the students honored service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and remain unidentified.
The group embarked on an ambitious itinerary that included the city’s most significant cultural institutions, even amid the government shutdown. Students visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington National Cathedral, Ford’s Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Mt. Vernon, the U.S. Capitol, The O Mansion Museum, the Museum of Illusions, and the Spy Museum. The O Mansion Museum and the Museum of Illusions were added to the itinerary this year.
The experience extended beyond museum walls. Students were given a personal tour of the U.S. Capitol by U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., where they encountered JA alumnus Nash Dehmer, now working in the nation’s capital. Evening tours of illuminated monuments offered yet another perspective on iconic structures.
This annual tradition, originally organized by Carol and Keith Branning, has been led for more than 10 years by Becky Clarke with additional faculty chaperones. This year, Brandt Walker, Kerri Smith, and Carrie Ann Eatherly joined Clarke as chaperones.
The trip aims to bring classroom discussions to life by immersing students in the actual places where history unfolded. These experiences create lasting impressions that resonate long after students return home.
Visit the Middle School Facebook page to view all of the photos
A parents’ meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 at 5 p.m. in the JA Learning Commons for next year’s eighth grade trip. All parents of seventh graders should attend to get information about the trip and sign up their child for the October 2026 trip!
