The Newseum in downtown Washington, D.C., is closing for good on Dec. 31, due to financial issues. The Journalism class scheduled one final field trip, and included the entire high school, to see the exhibits on display one final time.

After a junior and senior class photo on the observation deck, students wound their way around the displays, including the 9/11 gallery, inside today’s FBI, sections of the Berlin Wall, Pulitzer Prize photographs, and the interactive newsroom.

Although much of news reported today is shocking and depressing, we are still fortunate in America to have freedom of the press and be able to speak freely.