Spend a bit longer in the Rotunda, and don t walk across to the West side. If you are really pumped about the gardens and it s raining, walk them down to Pavilion VIII, and take them back to the balcony where they can peer across the garden. Mind you, this only works for small groups, but they get to see the inside of a Pavilion and a garden in the same token. Don t be so rigid that you can t mix things up a bit. We re not stagnate, boring people, so don t let your tours be.
History is political.
We are not responsible for what happened in 1817 or the 1960s. We are, however, responsible for keeping the history. If we simply omit the not so pretty parts of our history, we perpetuate the silence and do a large injustice to the people who struggled with the system. Educate our guests. They ll appreciate it in the long run.