LDS CHURCH HISTORY & AMERICAN HERITAGE TOUR

May 28 – June 11, 2011

Directors: Brent Poulsen and Bo Holland

This tour is specifically designed for young adult travelers or the young at heart!

Day 1 (Sat May 28):   FLY TO BWI / GETTYSBURG / WASHINGTON DC TEMPLE

We depart SLC early and fly to the BWI airport in Baltimore, Maryland. When we arrive we make our way over to the historic and unforgettable Gettysburg Battlefield and Visitors Center where we will enjoy the new Visitors Center and multi-media experience which will help us understand the momentous events that took place here. Afterwards we visit Little Round Top where the pivotal battle for the Civil war was won. Dinner is a pleasure at General Pickett’s Buffet in Gettysburg. After dinner we will make our way over to the amazing Washington D.C. Temple. We overnight in Rockville, Maryland.

Day 2 (Sun May 29):  DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON D.C. / MEMORIALS 

We begin today with a special Sacrament Service at our hotel before making our visits at our Nation’s Capital. We start with a group picture at the Capital Building and then you are free for the rest of the morning to enjoy the Smithsonian, Holocaust Museum, Washington Memorial, White House, Capital Building or whatever your heart desires. We conclude our downtown visits [with our group] visiting the Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam War, Korean War, as well as the new WWII Memorials. Following our visits we will make our way over to Philadelphia and overnight.   

Day 3 (Mon May 30):   PHILADELPHIA / LIBERTY BELL/ NYC / HARMONY

This morning we visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall [where the Declaration of Independence & Constitution were signed]. We will then make our way over to the Big Apple and take in some of the sights and sounds of this great city.  This afternoon travel up to Harmony, Pennsylvania/Susquehanna River where, among other things, the Priesthood was restored. We overnight in Binghamton, NY.

Day 4 (Tues May 31):   JOSEPH’S BIRTHPLACE: SHARON, VERMONT  

Today we make our way up to the Sharon, Vermont area. A few years ago members of the Church all over the world celebrated the 200^th Anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith and for us today we will get the opportunity of going visit his birthplace. This great Prophet of the Restoration began his mortal sojourn here and we will enjoy a day of reflection as we view the Monument and Visitors Center there. We overnight in Quechee Vt. 

Day 5 (Wed June 1):    FAYETTE / PALMYRA: HILL CUMORAH

Today, we will make our way over to the grassroots area of the Church in upstate New York.

Our first site is Fayette. The Church was officially organized here in 1830 at the Peter Whitmer Sr. Log House. Today is a memorable one as we visit many of the sites in the Palmyra area. We begin by taking in E. B. Grandin Press and Print Shop where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were made. Nearby is the grave site of Alvin Smith [brother of Joseph]. Our final visit of the day is the Hill Cumorah with the new Visitors Center. Tonight those that are interested and able will enjoy doing baptisms in the Palmyra Temple! We overnight in Palmyra, NY.

Day 6 (Thurs June 2):  PALMYRA: SACRED GROVE / NIAGARA FALLS / KIRTLAND

Our morning will begin with a visit to the Sacred Grove where the restoration of the Gospel began. We will then make a visit to the log and frame houses of Joseph Smith Sr. Following this experience we will travel to the majestic Niagara Falls for a memorable photo opportunity as well as a voyage on one of the ‘Maid of the Mist’ boats that take you right under the falls. From here we travel south to Kirtland, Ohio. This area is amazing as we visit four different sites where the Father and Son appeared. Our first stop is the new Historic Kirtland Visitors Center near the Newel K. Whitney Store. We spend some time in the ‘School of the Prophets’ room and conclude our day with a stop at the Morley Farm. We overnight near Mentor, Ohio.

Day 7 (Fri June 3):  KIRTLAND, OHIO: TEMPLE / QUARY / HIRAM

Today we begin with a visit the John Johnson Home [D&C 76] in Hiram, Ohio. Next we visit the Temple Quarry before going into the Kirtland Temple, which was the first Temple built in this dispensation [D&C 109 & 110]. Following lunch those interested can spend the afternoon at the #1 rated Amusement Park on the planet. The famous Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio is located on the shore of Lake Erie and is the second oldest amusement park in North America. We overnight in Sandusky, Ohio.     

Day 8 (Sat June 4):  AMISH COUNTRY

Today we are traveling through Amish country and cross Ohio into Indiana. We have an incredible experience as we stop in Shipshewana, Indiana for an Amish cooked meal. We first enjoy a tour of the MENNO-HOF (Mennonite-Amish) Visitors Center and Museum. This museum shares a great presentation of the history of this very fascinating people as well as many other religions throughout the Dark Ages. We also will feast on a home-cooked Amish meal that will truly be memorable.  We will overnight near Joliet Illinois.

Day 9 (Sun June 5):   CARTHAGE JAIL / NAUVOO

Today as we make our way across the State of Illinois we enjoy a Sacrament Service on the bus (perhaps your first traveling church service!) When we arrive in Carthage we reflect on the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at the Carthage Jail. Following this sobering experience we venture over to Nauvoo and re-experience history as we view the newly rebuilt Nauvoo Temple! Time permitting we visit the LDS Visitors Center where we see the model of 1846 Nauvoo and the magnificent sculpture garden that features the Monument to Women. We overnight in Nauvoo at the Nauvoo Family Inn & Suites.

Day 10 (Mon June 6):   MORE OF HISTORIC NAUVOO

Today we spend our day soaking in the sites and sounds of Historic Nauvoo. For those able and interested the day begins with Baptisms/Temple Session at the newly constructed Nauvoo Temple. In Historic Nauvoo there are over 30 sites to see and choose from; several Historical Homes and sites, Community of Christ (RLDS) Visitors Center, a horse and carriage ride, a good local fudge factory, etc. For those interested in the Missionary Production “High Hopes and Riverboats” will also be able to attend those. These sites should keep us all busy for the day.  This evening those interested may enjoy “Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo”, or “Sunset by the Mississippi”; both are productions put on by the local Missionaries. We again overnight in Nauvoo.

Day 11 (Tues June 7):   INDEPENDENCE / LIBERTY JAIL   

Today we explore the Independence, Missouri area with a visit to the Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters (formerly RLDS) as well as the ‘Temple Lot’ and the newly remodeled LDS Visitors Center. We will also spend some visiting the “Temple Prison”—Liberty Jail to learn and experience that sacred location.  There will also be a visit to the Liberty Cemetery.  We overnight in Kearney, Missouri.

Day 12 (Wed June 8):   ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN / FAR WEST / HAUNS MILL

Our historical sites today will be many.  We will see where the human race began at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. We will spend some time exploring the past, present and future significance of this sacred ground.  We will visit Far West where, among other things, the cornerstones for a temple were laid.  Also, we will visit the location of Haun’s Mill to learn of the tragedy that occurred there and explore the lessons that can be applied to us today.  We will overnight in St. Joseph.

Day 13 (Thurs June 9):   KAINSVILLE / WINTER QUARTERS

Today we make our way to the Kainsville Tabernacle (Council Bluffs, Iowa) where the Church has constructed a beautiful new Visitors Center. We then make our way to Omaha, Nebraska to visit the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters. It was here where the Saints who fled Nauvoo ended for the winter of 1846-47. Here we also see the Pioneer Cemetery and the new Winter Quarters Temple. We then make our way over to North Platte, Nebraska and spend the night.

Day 14 (Fri June 10):  PIONEER TRAIL / NEBRASKA & WYOMING

Today we see a good portion of the Pioneer trail as we make our way across Nebraska and into Wyoming. As we venture across the ‘Trail’ we enjoy and share stories of our Pioneer heritage.  On our way to Martin’s Cove we see more of the Mormon Trail when we pass Devil’s Gate.  We will also stop and climb Independence Rock where you can look for names of pioneer ancestors carved there. At Martins Cove we reflect on the unforgettable events that occurred there. It was here where the Martin & Willie Handcart Companies were stuck in the early snow storms of 1847. We will also take the opportunity to pull some pioneer handcarts into the Cove for some reflection time.  We will overnight in Rawlins, Wyoming.

Day 15 (Sat June 11):  INDEP. ROCK / MARTIN’S COVE / S.L. VALLEY

Today we will continue the Pioneer trail by through Wyoming and into the great state of Utah.   We conclude the trail when we reach Immigration Canyon and enter the Salt Lake Valley! Our final historic site is the “This is the Place” monument.  We will spend some time here absorbing the whole experience and will take a final group picture and will then make our way home!   

TOUR COST AND DETAILS

COST PER PERSON:

Quadruple Occupancy: $1800

Double Occupancy/or couples: $2550

DEPOSIT REQUIRED: $500 per person.

ROOMMATES: Single people may sign up for accommodations on a share basis and will be assigned roommates as circumstances permit.  If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price prior to departure.

CANCELLATION FEES: A $25 fee will be charged by Anderson Tours, LLC for all cancellations until 60 days prior to departure, at which time the fee will be $100.  In addition, all cancellation charges imposed by airlines, hotels, vendors, operators, etc., will be passed on to the participant.

TOUR INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

• First-class, top quality tour with experienced tour directors
• Private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
• Hotel Accommodations
• Two meals daily (breakfast and lunch or dinner) as indicated in the detailed itinerary.
• All admission fees to sites specified in the itinerary (group tours only)
• Anderson Tours flight bag, t-shirt, visor or hat
• Airport and other departure taxes
• REGISTRATION, DEPOSIT, PAYMENT, AND CANCELLATION:
  Early reservations are strongly recommended, and a deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 60 days prior to departure.  Applications received after this date should include full payment.  Any payments made after this date should also include also include full payment.  Any payments made 30 days prior to departure must be in the form of a money order.  Checks should be made payable to Anderson Tours.  All cancellation penalties are the responsibility of the participant.

Please send check payment and names of participants to:

Anderson Tours LLC
3155 S. Hidden Valley Dr. #302
St. George, UT  84790

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
Items of a personal nature, such as souvenirs; excess baggage or portage charges; personal, trip, or baggage insurance; room service; laundry; phone charges; food or beverages not part of the group menu; tips; gratuities for special services; expenses incurred on personal activities not included where group participation is not specified in the itinerary.