With Presidents Day coming up, there’s no better time than now to get the inside skinny on some of America’s most fascinating holders of the executive office. This February, March and April, Elderhostel – a not-for-profit lifelong learning organization founded in 1975 – is sponsoring a variety of short learning getaways that focus on American presidents.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their storied relationship; examine the multi-faceted genius of Thomas Jefferson; examine Abraham Lincoln’s Civil War years; or discover some of the lesser-known and unsung presidents – such as Taft, McKinley and Harding – and learn about their contributions to American politics and society.

Elderhostel collaborates with educational and cultural institutions around the U.S. to offer program packages that typically run from three- to five nights and include daily presentations and lectures by historians, academic faculty and local experts; field trips and activities; and accommodations and meals – all at an exceptional value. Cost per person is as low as $452.

Here are upcoming programs with a presidential theme:

Through lectures, discussions, and field trips to Colonial Williamsburg and rare Jefferson documents at the College of William and Mary (Jefferson’s alma mater) expand your knowledge of this extraordinary man.

Eleanor and Franklin: A Powerful Partnership
Location: New York
5-night program runs April 10-15, 2005 Cost: $575 per person
Discover why the legacy of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt is woven deeply into the fabric of New York's historic Hudson Valley. From the living room of Eleanor's beloved Stone Cottage at Val-Kill, Roosevelt experts and scholars offer insights into the lives of these two remarkable people and discuss the impact they had at home in Hyde Park, as well as the world. Lectures and discussions include the relationships that shaped and sustained them, their social and political interests and activism, their leadership and inspiration, and the revered place they earned in world history. Field trips to FDR's home, library and museum, as well as Top Cottage (FDR's recently-restored retirement home) will complete your unique experience and understanding of this fascinating couple.

Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Times/Why the North and South Fought the Civil War/Natural History of the Cumberland Mountains
Location: Kentucky
5-night program runs March 13-18, 2005 Cost: $452 per person
Delve into the life and political career of Abraham Lincoln, with the guidance of a Lincoln specialist. Study artifacts, documents, and memorabilia that give fascinating details and insights. Lively discussions and films make this period come alive. Program also includes daily presentations on the natural history of the Cumberland Mountains, nature walks, and discussions on the Civil War and its effects on ordinary people.

Ohio's Presidents/Ohio's Literary Heritage
Location: Ohio
5-night program runs April 24-29, 2005 Cost: $553 per person
Examine Ohio’s presidential legacy – the state has been home to more U.S. presidents than any other state except Virginia. Learn about Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield, McKinley, Taft and Harding, and take a field trip to the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont. A second course in this two-part program studies some of the well-known authors who came from Ohio, or used Ohio as literary settings: Sherwood Anderson, James Thurber, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Nikki Giovanni, and Louis Bromfield.

For more information about these programs, and Elderhostel’s many other educational adventures, call toll-free: 1-877-426-8056 or visit their website at www.elderhostel.org.

July 20, 2008
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