Learning Experiences
Through collaboration with local schools, our educational experiences align with standards from OSSE, VDOE, MSDE, NCSS, and NGSS. We work closely with teachers to tailor each visit to their students’ needs, designing all experiences to be engaging, interactive, and connected to the classroom.
During each visit, students participate in two learning experiences. Every group also meets with a Federal Circuit Judge to explore how the court shapes law and innovation.
During each visit, students participate in two learning experiences. Every group also meets with a Federal Circuit Judge to explore how the court shapes law and innovation.
Mock Trial
In the Mock Trial, students take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, jurors, and the judge in a trial led by attorneys from the Federal Circuit. The case explores a real 1887 dispute involving African American inventor Granville T. Woods, offering insight into how law, technology, and race intersected during Reconstruction and laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.
Explore the Innovation Center
During the tour, students explore the Innovation Center and the historic homes that now make up the courthouse, uncovering the people and movements that shaped the nation through high-tech and thought-provoking experiences. The program highlights stories of innovators, including abolitionist Paul Jennings, suffragist Lucy Branham, physician Charles Drew, and astronaut Sally Ride, linking these spaces to transformative moments in American history and social change.
Coming Spring 2026
We’re launching a new STEM experience that brings the court’s role in invention and innovation to life. Want to stay in the loop? Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for updates, behind-the-scenes previews, and launch announcements.
Additional Resources
Still have questions? Contact Us, browse our Frequently Asked Questions, or check out Visitor Information to help plan your visit. When you’re ready, use the button below to schedule your tour.
Schedule Your Visit Still have questions? Contact Us, browse our Frequently Asked Questions, or check out Visitor Information to help plan your visit. When you’re ready, use the button below to schedule your tour.