American History Tours

On a bright June morning, the Independence Hall in Philadelphia buzzed with eager students from Saranac Junior/Senior High, Michigan. Brimming with enthusiasm and excitement, they absorbed the allure of the historic site, its revered halls resonating with the voices of its founding fathers.

The next stop was Washington, D.C., where the towering Capitol Building embodies the cornerstone of Congressional accomplishments. Immersed in this environment, the students witnessed historical events reverberate through the walls of this building, igniting a connection irreplaceable by textbooks alone. Learning history from the sites where it was created helps etch unforgettable memories into students’ minds, imprinting knowledge in a way that fosters long-term retention and understanding.

As the students took home memories of their nation’s history, their educators felt grateful toward their reliable partner in making this a reality—American History Tours.

“American history is my passion, and I firmly believe that immersing students in the very sites where history unfolded is the best way to cultivate their understanding of pivotal historical events, remarkable architectural and engineering marvels, and cultural heritage, opening their eyes to discover history in its truest form,” says Glenn Fountain, owner and operator of American History Tours.

American History Tours, a travel agency specializing in educational tours, is the brainchild of Fountain. A retired eighth-grade U.S. history teacher, Fountain found that the major tour companies charge exorbitant rates for educational tours. Realizing the parents’ concerns, he decided to skip using the tour company his school collaborated with earlier and led the tour himself. This saved the student families a lot of money while delivering an improved, safe, and fun learning experience to students.

These tours fill the gap between theory and practice, stimulating critical thinking among students and leading to a more engaged learning experience. These also catalyze students to create strong friendships, taking it a notch higher than virtual reality tours.

“We offer affordable, high-quality, and impactful tours while prioritizing the convenience of educators and school personnel. We want our tours to be fun yet educational, bringing every historical site to life for students. For this, we partner with local tour guides to provide immersive educational tours to historical sites, including the U.S. Capitol, Independence Hall, and the Lincoln Memorial,” says Fountain.

American History Tours has successfully combated the challenge in the educational tourism industry around securing buses, hotel rooms, and restaurant reservations by handling the entire process of organizing and delivering the best trip possible. It connects with the same vendors to get early bookings, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for the teachers and students.

American History Tours also assists teachers in seeking tour approvals from the school boards and administrators by attending meetings on their behalf or alongside them. It makes trips easy and duty-free for teachers by incorporating online registrations and payments and takes on the complete responsibility of planning and coordinating the trips. Its simple and efficient approach saves time for teachers, offering them much-needed support and allowing them to devote their time to teaching instead of worrying about the trip.

It further removes the financial worry off the plate for teachers and parents. For this, it partners with multiple fundraising companies to initiate yearly fundraisers. This helps students raise funds collectively, enabling many to fully cover the trip's expenses and making the tour more accessible and inclusive. Over the years, it expanded its fundraising practices and purchased a site with a kitchen, where it prepares and sells sub sandwiches, gourmet popcorn, and other items to generate funds. Students can earn money through these sales, which directly go into their trip accounts.

We offer affordable, high-quality, and impactful tours while prioritizing the convenience of educators and school personnel. We want our tours to be fun yet educational, bringing every historical site to life for students

What differentiates American History Tours is its safety program and clear tour purpose that offers reassurance to school boards, students, teachers, and parents. It prioritizes the safety and comfort of students during hotel stays. For this, it collaborates with a trusted security firm that delivers experienced hallway monitors assigned to surveil the halls near the student rooms. Their three main functions comprise—safeguarding against interference from other hotel guests, ensuring students remain in their respective rooms, and managing noise and sleeping schedules. Counting and tracking students during travel transitions are also standard practices. Its comprehensive approach to hotel security alleviates the primary concern shared by parents and schools.

American History Tours doesn’t shy away from making it equally fun for students. It incorporates enjoyable activities, including visits to Hersheypark. Halfway through the trip, it also takes students to themed restaurants, allowing them to unwind from visiting poignant places like the Arlington Cemetery and Holocaust Museum.

American History Tours continues to craft fun, educational, and life-changing travel experiences that leave a lasting impact on students and educators. A pioneer in educational tourism, American History Tours has made an indelible mark within the educational tourism industry by making “learning from experience” a reality.