On this tour we examine heroes from all over the world – from well-known heroes like Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. to the people in your group, who make choices every day to stand up for justice and equality. We'll focus on the qualities that make someone a hero: strength of character, willingness to speak the truth, commitment to change, and the ability to learn from and collaborate with people different from themselves. Through our interactive galleries and the discussions they generate, your group will come away from this tour convinced of the power of one to make a difference.

On this tour we examine conflict on many levels, from bullying and teasing, to prejudice and discrimination. We use examples of heroes like Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Gandhi to bring these issues to life and connect them to the conflicts your group experiences in their everyday lives. With each story, we discuss positive and negative responses to conflict and introduce techniques for dealing with conflict in a peaceful way. Museum exhibits which address this issue include the Shredder Exhibit, the Bridge to Forgiveness and the Peace Portal sculpture, among others.

What ties us together as a nation? Unlike other countries that have one language, one ethnicity, or one religion, we are united by the ideals of freedom and justice set forth by our Founders. The United States is a nation of differences by design, from our races and cultures to our politics and personalities. The Diversity Appreciation Tour will explore the accomplishments and cultural contributions of people of all backgrounds and examine struggles for equal rights across the globe. Using our life-sized Jellybean People Exhibit as a backdrop, we will invite your group to define their own identity, discuss what makes us all similar, and reaffirm their respect for people who are different from themselves.

Rights are like muscles – if we want them to be strong, we have to exercise them. But the power that freedom gives us comes with great responsibility. How do we exercise our rights in a way that does not infringe on the rights of others? On this tour, we'll focus on the responsibilities of citizenship that come with living in a free society. Do we have the right to call each other names? Do we have the responsibility to protest unjust laws? Your group will discuss these issues and others, as they use our interactive exhibits to evaluate their personal views on freedom.

This tour introduces all of the Museum’s themes relating to preserving freedom: balancing rights with responsibilities, resolving conflicts peacefully, recognizing that every person can make a difference and appreciation for diversity.

If you would like classroom materials for a Highlights Tour, please check the materials for the specific themes, as they will all be briefly covered. NOTE: The Highlights Tour is not offered as a 120-minute Museum Learning Experience.