DELUXE LDS CHURCH HISTORY & AMERICAN HERITAGE TOUR
July 7 – 21st, 2026
Directors: Dr. Clark D. Anderson EdD + Jeffrey L. Jensen + Jennifer Shaw
Price: $3,685
Day 1 (Tues July 7): GETTYSBURG / WASHINGTON DC TEMPLE
Our Tour begins with a visit to the historic and unforgettable Gettysburg Battlefield and Visitors Center. Lunch is a pleasure at the Red Barn Buffet in Gettysburg. Our last stop of the day will be a memorable stop at the Washington D.C. Temple. We will not only enjoy the view, but if possible also take in the fantastic movie on the Restoration on their large screen. We will retire early and overnight near the Temple in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Day 2 (Wed July 8): DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON D.C. / MEMORIALS
Today we get to explore our Nation’s Capital! You will be free today to enjoy the Smithsonian Museums (Natural History, American History, Air & Space, National Gallery of Art, etc.), Holocaust Museum, Washington Memorial, White House, Capital Building, Arlington Cemetery or whatever your heart desires. This afternoon as a group we will visit the Lincoln, Vietnam, Korean War, Jefferson, FDR, Martin Luther King, and WWII Memorials together. Following our downtown visits we will travel to Philadelphia and overnight.
Day 3 (Thurs July 9): LIBERTY BELL / PHILADELPHIA / NYC
Today we begin our day at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall [where the Declaration of Independence & Constitution were signed]. Time permitting we will do a driving tour of downtown Philly where we will see Benjamin Franklin’s home/grave, Betsy Ross Home, Rocky statue, LDS Temple, etc. From here we will cross over to New Jersey and take a ferry into New York City which passes the Statue of Liberty and has fantastic views of the city. This evening you will be free to do as you would like; take in an additional Broadway Play, etc. We will overnight in NYC near Times Square and the Theater District of NYC.
Day 4 (Fri July 10): NYC: TEMPLE, BROADWAY SHOW
This morning you are free to venture out and explore the “Big Apple” as your heart desires. For those interested Dr. Anderson will lead us to Ground Zero, Battery Park, Trinity Church, Hamilton grave, Wall Street, the First US Congress Building, St. Paul’s Church, etc. He will also share the Church History information relative to NYC. You will then enjoy the afternoon time as you desire visiting the Empire State Building, Broadway, Times Square, Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Statue of Liberty, the LDS Manhattan Temple, etc. This evening we will enjoy a Broadway Show together. We again overnight in NYC.
Day 5 (Sat July 11): HARMONY, PENNS: SUSQ. RIVER / FAYETTE / PALMYRA
Today we depart NYC and travel up to Harmony, Pennsylvania / Susquehanna River where, among other things, the Priesthood was restored. After enjoying the Visitors Center, homes, & cemetery there we will have lunch in the area. Next we will take a beautiful drive up to the grassroots area of the Church in upstate New York. Our first site in this area is Fayette, New York. The Church was officially organized here in 1830 at the Peter Whitmer Sr. Log House. We overnight in the Palmyra area.
Day 6 (Sun July 12): PALMYRA: SACRED GROVE / HILL CUMORAH / TEMPLE
Today is an amazing day visiting all the sites in the Palmyra area. We begin with some quiet ponder time in the Sacred Grove. Next we will attend a worship service in the chapel next to the Palmyra Temple. After lunch we will visit the E. B. Grandin Press and Print Shop. Nearby is the grave site of Alvin Smith [brother of Joseph]. We will next visit the Hill Cumorah and review the historical accounts of events. We conclude our day with a visit to the log house of Joseph Smith Sr. and a visit to the Temple for pictures. Those who would like more time in the Sacred Grove can do so. We again overnight in the Palmyra area.
Day 7 (Mon July 13): NIAGARA FALLS / BOAT TO FALLS / KIRTLAND
This morning as we travel to the majestic Niagara Falls where we will take 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 where the Father and Son appeared. We overnight in Mentor, Ohio.
Day 8 (Tues July 14): 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 newly acquired Kirtland Temple, which was the first Temple built in this dispensation [D&C 109 & 110]. We will conclude our day with a stop at the cemetery, Joseph & Emma’s home, and the Morley Farm. We enjoy a relaxing evening at our hotel.
Day 9 (Wed July 15): AMISH COUNTRY / NOTRE DAME / CHICAGO
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. After lunch we will 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 including the beginnings of Christianity. Following our home-cooked Amish meal we leave Amish country and pass by South Bend, Indiana, which is home to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. We enjoy some time and dinner at the famous Navy Pier in Chicago and overnight in Joliet, IL.
Day 10 (Thurs July 16): CARTHAGE JAIL / NAUVOO
Today we will make our way across the State of Illinois. When we arrive in Carthage we will reflect on the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at the Carthage Jail. Following this sobering experience we will venture over to Nauvoo and re-experience history as we view the majestic Nauvoo Temple! Time permitting we will visit the LDS Visitors Center where we will see the model of 1846 Nauvoo and the magnificent sculpture garden that features the Monument to Women. This evening those interested may enjoy the productions put on by the local Missionaries (“Sunset by the Mississippi”) as well as the amazing “British Pageant“. We overnight in Nauvoo.
Day 11 (Fri July 17): MORE OF HISTORIC NAUVOO / NAUVOO PAGEANTS
Today we spend our day soaking in the sights and sounds of Historic Nauvoo. For those able and interested the day will begin with a Temple Session or Baptisms at the remarkable Nauvoo Temple. In Historic Nauvoo there are over 30 sites to see and choose from; several Historical Homes and sites including the newly acquired Mansion House, Homestead, and Red Brick Store. You can also enjoy a horse and carriage ride, a good local fudge factory, etc. For those interested in the Missionary Productions will also be able to attend those. These sites should keep us all busy for the day. Dinner is a pleasure at the buffet in the Hotel Nauvoo. Our evening will be a memorable one as we experience the “Nauvoo Pageant“. We again overnight in Nauvoo.
Day 12 (Sat July 18): ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN / FAR WEST / LIBERTY JAIL
Today we make our way down to Missouri and pass through Hannibal, which is home to the famous writer Samuel Clements [Mark Twain]. Our historical sites begin today where the human race began at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. We will then venture over to Far West where, among other things, the cornerstones for a temple were laid. Following our stop there we will enjoy the Temple Prison; Liberty Jail (D&C 121-122). Following dinner we will explore the Independence, Missouri area with a visit to the Community of Christ Temple and Headquarters (formerly RLDS) as well at the ‘Temple Lot’ and the newly remodeled LDS Visitors Center. We overnight in Liberty, Missouri.
Day 13 (Sun July 19): WINTER QUARTERS / PIONEER TRAIL – NEBRASKA
Today we 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 will also see the Pioneer Cemetery and Winter Quarters Temple. We will attend Church in the area and time permitting also visit the Kainsville Tabernacle. Following our visit we will begin to retrace the route of the original Pioneers as they began their journey west following Brigham Young’s leadership. We will read the Pioneer accounts and journals as they made their way west. We will follow their journey as far as Grand Island, Nebraska where we will overnight.
Day 14 (Mon July 20): 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 will enjoy and share stories of our Pioneer heritage. One of our stops today will include the Guernsey Ruts where you can still see the grooves in the rocks made by the Pioneer wagons. We will also admire Signature Cliffs, where hundreds of immigrants signed their names to the rock. In Casper, Wyoming we will visit the newly constructed Trails Center where we will learn about the five trails used by the early settlers as they migrated west. We overnight in Casper, Wyoming.
Day 15 (Tues July 21): INDEP. ROCK / MARTIN’S COVE / S.L. VALLEY
What better way to anticipate the celebration of Pioneer Day than traveling the actual trail and arriving in the Salt Lake Valley!? Today we travel the last leg of the Pioneer Trail. On our way to Martin’s Cove we will see more of the Mormon Trail when we pass Devil’s Gate and Independence Rock. At Martins Cove we will 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. Following this sobering experience we will continue to follow the trail up past the 6-crossing site and on until we eventually reach Immigration Canyon and enter the Salt Lake Valley! Our Tour concludes at the “This is the Place” monument. We should arrive around 6pm.
COSTS AND DETAILS
PRICE for Church History Tour: $3,685 per person double occupancy
[These prices include all transportation, fuel surcharges, 2 meals daily, entrance fees and Broadway Play]
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 Director
- Private, deluxe Air-Conditioned Motor Coach
- Hotel Accommodations (Holiday Inn Express or comparable)
- Two Meals Daily (breakfast and lunch or dinner) as indicated in the detailed itinerary
- All Admission Fees to sites specified in the itinerary including the NYC Broadway Play
- Country Visas, Airport as well as other Departure Taxes
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare to BWI, 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, gratuities for special services; expenses incurred on personal activities not included where group participation is not specified in the itinerary. We are happy to help you arrange your flight arrangements to BWI.
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. 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
8661 Millpond Pl
Riverside, CA 92508
