Jamila Robinson, Staff Writer

What better way to recognize and celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence than by traveling to Virginia to visit the homes and burial sites of Revolutionary leaders, including George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence?

As a college student eager to gain hands-on work experience and apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios, a travel study course could be an ideal opportunity for you. Within the liberal arts curriculum at La Salle, several courses offer the exposure you’re seeking. For example, HIS 302, The American Revolution course allows you to delve deeper into the leaders of the new American Republic, exploring their motivations and the significant roles they played in shaping our nation as we know it today.

In the classroom, you’ll investigate how various policies and frameworks were established, before venturing into the field to visit historical sites where these figures lived, gaining a clearer understanding of their actions. You’ll have the unique chance to walk in their footsteps, gaining insights into their perspectives on life and governance, all while learning firsthand about their aspirations for a more perfect world.

During this travel study, students explored the state of Virginia, visiting the homes of several presidents: George Washington’s Mount Vernon plantation, an expansive 8,000-acre estate that is a popular tourist destination; Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, celebrated for its distinctive architecture and agricultural innovations; and James Madison’s Montpelier, lifelong home of the “Father of the Constitution.” Each of these homes are fascinating to tour, because they are expressions of the men who designed them and lived there. Additionally, the class had the privilege of visiting the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, where J. Jefferson Looney, the Chief Editor-in-Chief for the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, provided us with an insider’s view of the process of editing and annotating Jefferson’s personal letters and correspondence for publication.

This enriching experience was made possible through a generous donation from Patrick and Alicia O’Grady to the History Program in honor of their father, History Professor Joseph O’Grady, who taught Diplomatic History and Irish History at La Salle for decades. Dr. Stuart Leibiger and the History Department developed the O’Grady History Fund, a program featuring four main elements: providing history majors—and the entire university community—access to biannual lectures from exceptional guest speakers as part of a lecture series; inviting a visiting professors to teach a specialized History courses; revitalizing a Travel Study program that provides scholarships to history majors to visit the historical sites they study in class; and launching a marketing initiative to attract new history majors to the school.

“In only three days, we visited several bucket list American Revolution sites, including four presidents’ homes, three presidents’ graves, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson Editorial Project and the University of Virginia designed by Jefferson,” commented Dr. Leibiger. “We not only toured historical sites, but also visited many historians, including interpreters, costumed interpreters (portraying Martha Washington and Revolutionary soldiers) and a documentary editor.”