2024 American Heritage & LDS Church History Tour with Kay Godfrey

Dates July 6-20, 2024
Destination Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, PA; New York City, NY; Boston, MA; Sharon, VT; Palmyra, NY; Niagara Falls, NY; Kirtland, OH; Nauvoo, IL; Carthage, IL;
Duration 15 days 14 nights
Price From N/A
Printable Flyer

Religious Focus:

Sightseeing:

Activity Level:

Walking Level:


Join favorite tour director, Kay Godfrey, and Morris Murdock Escorted Tours on the tour we originated many, many years ago. This tour is always a favorite of our clients, and we invite you to come with us this summer and find out why!

On this tour, we journey to two very special time periods! We will go back to the beginning of our country and also to the time of the restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Some of the highlighted experiences will be: Witnessing the Nauvoo pageant, Historical sites in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, doing the Maid of the Mist boat ride at Niagara Falls, attending the Temple in Nauvoo, singing in the Kirtland temple, praying in the Sacred Grove...the list can go on and on.

This deluxe motor coach tour has something for everyone! In the past, we have been delighted to take families, grandparents with their grandchildren, single ladies' groups, and couples of all ages who are ready to leave the driving up to someone else to be educated and entertained while we relive the past 200 years!

*Please note that while the physical activity on this tour (walking distances) is not significant, the days are full of touring from breakfast to dinner time with "down-time" only in the evening.

Tour ID # 9224G06

To book this tour contact your favorite Morris Columbus Travel Advisor or the Group Tour Manager listed below:

Questions? Contact:

Sarah Wangsgard, Tour Manager
Tel: (801) 483-6473
Email Sarah

Day 1: Saturday, July 6, 2024
Day 1: Saturday, July 6, 2024

Arrive Washington DC

Our adventure begins as we arrive in Washington, D. C. At the airport we will meet up with other tour members and board our motor coach, our home for the next 2 weeks while we make our way to our hotel.

Day 2: Sunday, July 7, 2024
Day 2: Sunday, July 7, 2024

Washington, D.C.- Church Services

This morning for those interested we will attend a local sacrament meeting. Afterwards we will return to the hotel to change our clothes and then we take a ride along the Virginia countryside to Mount Vernon, home and burial place of George Washington. The evening is free for you to enjoy Arlington or to maybe take the Metro back to the Mall area for some nighttime viewing of the monuments.

Day 3: Monday, July  8, 2024
Day 3: Monday, July 8, 2024

Washington, D.C.

Today we will cross the bridge into the capitol city to tour the great monuments, we'll see the White House and many other well-known sights. Your afternoon and evening is free to visit the National Archives, the National Art Gallery or any of the thrilling Smithsonian Institute buildings including the new Space Museum. 

Day 4: Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Day 4: Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Washington, D.C. - Fort McHenry - Philadelphia - New York City

Today we leave our Nation's Capital and see Fort McHenry where the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write our National Anthem was fought. After participating in the morning flag ceremony, we will continue to our nation's first capital of Philadelphia. We will get to tour Independence Hall and see the famed Liberty Bell. After a lunch stop, we will continue on to New York City. We will arrive with time for you to enjoy a free evening of your choice. You can plan a nice dinner, catch a Broadway show, or for those who would like, we will take a group over to the LDS Manhattan temple to walk around the grounds. (The Manhattan Temple is currently under renovation so we will not be able to go inside at this time.)

Day 5: Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Day 5: Wednesday, July 10, 2024

New York

We'll have a 1/2-day bus tour of the Big Apple including the NY Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Wall Street, the Top of Rock building, Radio City Music Hall, the United Nations, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Lincoln Center. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours. You can choose to take time to rest, shop at Macy's or Fifth Avenue shops, or go over to Ellis Island. Tonight, would be the night to plan a Broadway show, if you so desire.

Day 6: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Day 6: Thursday, July 11, 2024

New York - Boston

Historic New England, here we come! See the countryside come alive as we drive through Connecticut and Rhode Island. In history packed Boston, our Historian will share sites such as the famous SS Constitution (Old Ironsides) the oldest U.S. Naval ship in service. We'll stroll the Freedom Trail and see the Old North Church and Paul Revere's statue. You'll want to browse the quaint shops and choose a restaurant for some Boston clam chowder and seafood. Next, we motor through the scenic, quiet New England countryside past Lexington and Concord, to our hotel for the night.

Day 7: Friday, July 12, 2024
Day 7: Friday, July 12, 2024

Sharon, Vermont - Lebanon, New Hampshire

We depart this morning from Boston for Sharon, Vermont - birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We will pass some historical sites along the way. At Sharon, we will stop and enjoy the peaceful woods and grounds and go to the Visitor Center, which is located on the site of Joseph's birth.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Saturday, July 13, 2024
Day 8: Saturday, July 13, 2024

Lebanon, Fayette, Palmyra 

Today we'll visit the town where the Church was organized in 1830, Fayette, NY, before continuing on to Pittsford, NY which is near the Hill Cumorah. 

Meals : Breakfast
Day 9: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Day 9: Sunday, July 14, 2024

Palmyra

This morning we will spend time in the Sacred Grove and reflect on the special events that have taken place there. We will visit Joseph Smith Seniors home, the Hill Cumorah and the Grandin Printing complex where the first Book of Mormon was printed.

Meals : Breakfast
Day 10: Monday, July 15, 2024
Day 10: Monday, July 15, 2024

Palmyra - Niagara Falls - Kirtland

As we bid farewell to Palmyra, we travel to one of the Wonders of the World - the mighty Niagara Falls. Here we will have time to enjoy the sights and even take an optional boat ride behind the falls. After we leave the falls, we will get to then visit the Church's first temple in Kirtland. Tonight we will also stop at the Isaac Morley Farm.

Meals : Breakfast
Day 11: Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Day 11: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Kirtland, Kansas City and Independence

Today we leave Kirtland and transfer to the Cleveland airport for our flight to Kansas City to start the second half of the church history section of our tour. Upon arrival, we will go the LDS Visitors Center in Independence near the temple site in Jackson County. We will then make our way to the hotel for the evening.  

Meals : Breakfast
Day 12: Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Day 12: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Liberty Jail, Farwest, Adam-ondi-Ahman and Nauvoo

We begin our day by traveling to Liberty to visit the jail where the Prophet Joseph spent several months while the Saints suffered severe persecution in Missouri.  We will then travel to Far West to see the sight of the temple and discuss the historic events that occurred here before the Saints were forced to leave Missouri. Our next stop is Adam-Ondi Ahman to see where Adam and Eve lived after the Garden of Eden and then we'll continue on our scenic drive to Nauvoo. Tonight we will get to see the British church history Pageant "Truth Will Prevail" (2024 schedule still pending).

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Thursday, July 18, 2024
Day 13: Thursday, July 18, 2024

Nauvoo, The City Beautiful + Nauvoo Pageant

Today we will truly discover the Nauvoo of the early Saints as you explore the restored buildings of Old Nauvoo. We'll visit Joseph Smith's Mansion House, Nauvoo House and Homestead, and other LDS sites like the Seventies Hall, Times and Seasons Office, and the Browning Gun and Blacksmith Shops. We'll marvel at the Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and Heber C. Kimball homes, as well as the LDS Visitors' Center and Gardens with the many statues honoring women. We will enjoy an incredible buffet dinner at the Nauvoo Restaurant and then enjoy the Joseph Smith Pageant.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Friday, July 19, 2024
Day 14: Friday, July 19, 2024

Nauvoo/Carthage

Our day begins with an early morning opportunity to serve at the Nauvoo Temple (attendance at the Temple is optional). Afterwards we will head back to the hotel and change clothes. We will make our way to Carthage Jail and pay tribute to Joseph and Hyrum as we recount the martyrdom. After Carthage we will go and visit the stone quarry and Pioneer Cemetery. Tonight we will gather back together for dinner, then off to see the production of "Sunset By the Mississippi". We will end the evening with a visit to the Trail of Hope.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Saturday, July 20, 2024
Day 15: Saturday, July 20, 2024

Nauvoo, Hannibal and St. Louis

As we say farewell to Nauvoo, we continue on to Hannibal, MO to enjoy a little Huckleberry Finn on the Mississippi River, including lunch on a Riverboat. We will finish our touring by heading to the St. Louis airport for our flights home.  

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Highlights of the Tour:

  • 1 tour-bus experience for the whole tour!
  • Morris Murdock LDS tour Director for the whole trip along with local guides
  • Licensed, insured, and bonded travel agency with 60 years of experience!! IT MATTERS!

Included:

  • 1 tour-bus size experience for the whole tour
  • Hotel accommodations in first class hotels or best available
  • Morris Murdock escort Kay Godfrey and local guides to historical sites
  • Meals as outlined in the itinerary: (B) Breakfast; (L) Lunch; (D) Dinner
  • Flight from Cleveland to Kansas City
  • Ground transportation via luxury air-conditioned motor coaches
  • Tips for local sightseeing guides, hotels, and provided meals outlined in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and transfers as outlined in the itinerary
  • Travel document package and study books
  • Whisper headsets throughout the tour so you don't miss a thing!

Not Included:

  • Air transportation from your hometown city to Washington DC/BWI Airport and -return from St Louis, MO.
  • Transportation not scheduled in the itinerary
  • Meals other than those specified
  • Tipping for guide and bus driver
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, beverages, etc.)
  • Trip Cancellation insurance

Payment Information:

  • The deposit is $250.00 pp
  • A Cash Discount of $100.00 pp is offered for final payment by check or electronic bank transfer
  • The final Payment is due May 06, 2024
  • Program based on a minimum of 35 travelers. Surcharges may be assessed if the number is not met.
  • Terms & Conditions

Optional Pricing:

  • Double - $3,209.00
  • Triple - $3,009.00
  • Quad - $2,809.00
  • Single - $4,539.00