Around every corner of this city lies a piece of American history, as you'll discover for yourself on a day immersing in historic Philadelphia. Begin the morning with a Tauck Exclusive, early-opening private tour of the Museum of the American Revolution, followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic district. Then tour Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and view the Liberty Bell, before spending the rest of the day as you please in Pennsylvania's City of Brotherly Love.

A morning drive with a Gettysburg expert takes you through some of the battlefields - now eerily peaceful - viewing pivotal sites and hearing stories such as the defense of Little Round Top, the Killer Angels and the courage and futility of Pickett's Charge. More than 50,000 men on both sides were killed, wounded or missing at Gettysburg; about 6,000 lie in the national cemetery here, which Lincoln dedicated with his famous address later that year. Travel on to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, with a Ken Burns vignette that sets up your visit to the site of John Brown's failed 1859 raid on the town's federal arsenal, where the abolitionist was captured and most of his 21-man army were killed. The Civil War was fought in 10,000 places, the majority of them in the South; foraging armies swept across American farms and burned American towns, and homes became headquarters and hospitals. You'll travel through some of these towns as you continue on this afternoon to Charlottesville, Virginia for a two-night stay.

An in-depth view of the Civil War from various perspectives awaits in Richmond, capital of Virginia and the capital of the Confederate States of America during the war. Begin the day with a private guided tour of the historic Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson and French architect Charles-Louis Clerisseau, and modeled after an ancient Roman temple in southern France. A National Historic Landmark completed in 1788, the building also served as the Confederacy's wartime capitol; a major restoration and expansion was completed in 2007. Following lunch at a local bistro, travel to Colonial Williamsburg, whose cobblestone streets and buildings have been restored to the way they looked when the city was Virginia's Colonial capital. As you step back in time during your two-night stay, enjoy dinner this evening at an 18th-century style tavern in Colonial Williamsburg.

You'll travel from Williamsburg this morning to the magnificent Mount Vernon estate of America's first president, George Washington. Overlooking the Potomac River, the setting couldn't be more spectacular; explore the state-of-the-art interactive museum, the 18th-century mansion and landscaped grounds. You'll have a late afternoon arrival in Washington, DC, capital city of the US, for a three-night stay at one of its most historic hotels, The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C.; dine tonight at the hotel.

First up today, a Tauck Exclusive - early admission to the Rotunda of the National Archives for a private viewing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, with welcome comments by a National Archives insider. Then go behind the scenes with an archival researcher to learn how modern archival techniques preserve both great documents and stories of individual Americans. The afternoon is free; you'll have time at the National Archives to explore as you please, or perhaps visit one of the many museums on the National Mall. Tonight, a memorable week concludes with a farewell reception and dinner.