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Prepare for Your Minnesota State Capitol Field Trip
Tips to prepare yourself, your students, and your chaperones for your field trip.
Before your visit
- Consider your group’s accessibility needs and communicate these to our team at fieldtrips@mnhs.org.
- Discuss museum manners with your students.
- Share visit schedules with the staff and chaperones.
- Assign students to specific chaperones. A ratio of one chaperone for every ten students is required.
- Review confirmation materials for details on your visit, including schedule of events.
Directions and parking
Share copies of directions and parking information for bus drivers and chaperones.
Minnesota State Capitol Directions and Parking
Bus Parking
Bus parking is permitted on both sides of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in front of the Capitol as long as the driver stays with the bus.
If this is not possible, buses can be parked at the metered spaces along John Ireland Blvd. or Cedar St. Payment should be made on as many spaces as are used.
Metered spaces cost $2.25/hr, the pay stations take cash or credit cards.
Car Parking
Cars may park at the metered spaces along John Ireland Blvd. or Cedar St. Metered spaces cost $2.25/hr.
Cars may also park at non-reserved, numbered spaces in the state parking lots. State parking lot spaces cost $2.00/hr.
When you arrive at the Minnesota State Capitol
- Buses should drop-off groups on Cedar Street (East of the Capitol) or on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Send the group leader to check-in at the 1st floor Information & Tour Desk.
- Be prepared to give an accurate count of the number of students, school staff, and chaperones.
- Groups should gather on the south front steps. Break the larger group into equal-sized smaller groups as instructed by the tour check-in staff.
- Staff will meet you outside to begin your tour. The ground floor entrance (under the front steps) is wheelchair accessible. Those using the accessible entrance should take the elevator to the first floor.
Important notes for your visit
- Your legislators will be invited to greet your group after the tour for approximately 5-10 minutes. Legislators availability to meet with your group is dependent on their schedule and is not guaranteed.
- The Capitol is a working office building and some areas may be closed during your reserved time due to government business.
- Other visitors will be present in the building during your visit, and may be touring the same spaces with their group.
- For the safety of visitors, the Quadriga, or golden horses, is open only as weather permits.
Accessibility
The Minnesota State Capitol welcomes all visitors and strives to make everyone’s visit a positive experience. Please let us know if your group has anyone with special accommodation needs. Email fieldtrips@mnhs.org to discuss your group’s access needs.
- All public restrooms in the Capitol include accessible stalls.
- American Sign Language interpreters are available with two weeks’ notice.
- Wheelchairs are available on-site for use during your visit. First come, first serve.
- The ground floor entrance (under the south main steps) is the accessible entrance. Upon request, the guide will meet your reserved group at this entrance.
- All floors of the Capitol are accessible by elevator except the roof.
- If the weather allows a visit to the Quadriga, there are 63 steps to get to the roof level. Unfortunately there is no elevator access. A virtual Quadriga tour is available on our website.
Review the Minnesota State Capitol Field Trip Social Narrative to prepare your group.
Learn more about accessibility at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Chaperone tips
- Ensure chaperones know their visit schedule, including arrival, departure, and program times.
- Preview: Send them the link to the Minnesota State Capitol webpage to get them excited about their day and familiar with the historic site.
- Assign students to specific chaperones.
Chaperones are responsible for the conduct of the students they are accompanying. The Minnesota State Capitol requires that students remain with their chaperones at all times.
Minnesota State Capitol museum manners
- Walk and stay with your group to ensure everyone stays safe.
- Use indoor voices so everyone can hear and learn.
- Be respectful of staff, each other, your chaperones and other visitors.
- Protect the historic building by only touching when a staff member says it's okay.
- Turn cell-phones to vibrate or silent during the field trip.
Lunch
Bag lunches may be eaten on the Capitol Mall but not inside the Capitol building. Please bring garbage bags for your waste. Do not use lawn areas when posted for chemical treatment.
If you bring bag lunches and want to use the Centennial Office Building cafeteria please call the Department of Administration for a special use permit at 651-201-2300.
Field trip preview
Explore the Capitol from your classroom with the virtual tours!
Watch this short video to get a preview of what you’ll experience at the Minnesota State Capitol.
Questions?
Please contact our staff at fieldtrips@mnhs.org or schedule an appointment. All booking requests must be submitted through our Request Form.