Teach 250: Introducing the National Mall Gateway

Educators are invited to join the Trust for the National Mall, National Park Service and Destination DC to kick off this year's series of Teach 250: Inspiring a More Perfect Union. Leading up to the historic 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, this teacher workshop series is designed to help prepare educators for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by exploring ways to celebrate, honor, commemorate, and dive deep into America's 250 years of history. 

We kick off this virtual series of TEACH 250 with a special broadcast highlighting the oldest built structure on the National Mall, the Lockkeeper’s House. Here, we will introduce the National Mall Gateway,  the Trust and the National Park Service's brand-new digital education platform for students and educators for on-site and virtual learning. The Gateway, accessible from anywhere in the world, brings history and civics to life through the National Mall, offering 360-degree tours of the monuments and memorials and in-depth facts that bring the National Mall’s iconic sites into your classroom. The Gateway also helps teachers plan and maximize the impact of in-person field trips to the National Mall with curated tours, reflection questions and educational activities for before, during or after your visit.

In this Teach 250 session, we will show you how to use the Gateway to explore the Lockkeeper’s House, as an example of ways teachers can use the platform in their classroom and to prepare for on-site visits.