Prepare for Your Historic Fort Snelling 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 and a ratio of one chaperone for every five students is recommended.
• Ensure everyone has weather appropriate footwear and clothing. 
• Review confirmation materials for details on your visit, including schedule of events.

When you arrive at Historic Fort Snelling

• Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in and a bathroom break. 
• Have buses drop-off at the Welcome Plaza. Please have the group leader disembark first while students stay on the buses. 
• Be prepared to give an accurate count of the number of students, school staff, and chaperones. 
• As everyone exits the buses, staff will greet your group and direct you to the Overlook for a brief site orientation.
• Each adult will receive a passport and map of the site. At their own pace, teachers and chaperones will lead their students between their choice of staff-led and self-guided locations.

Accessibility

Historic Fort Snelling 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.

• Public restrooms in the Visitor Center and Historic Fort include accessible stalls.
• American Sign Language interpreters are available with two weeks’ notice.
• From the Welcome Plaza to the Historic Fort is about one third of a mile. Wheelchairs are available on-site for use during your visit. First come, first serve.
• Quiet rooms are available for students in need of privacy.

Review the Historic Fort Snelling Field Trip Social Narrative to prepare your group.

Learn more about accessibility at Historic Fort Snelling.

Historic Fort Snelling museum manners

• Walk and stay with your group on designated paths and trails. 
• Students must stay with chaperones at all times. 
• Respect the museum exhibits and displays. 
• Food and drink must stay in designated areas. 
• When inside, use indoor voices so everyone can hear and learn. 
• Respect those in your group, other visitors, staff and wildlife. 
• Protect historic objects by only touching when a staff member says it's okay.

Lunch

Outdoor picnic spaces are available for group use. Groups from multiple schools may share the outdoor lunch spaces. Please bring garbage bags to dispose of your trash.

There are no refrigerators or microwaves for school group use.

Additional indoor spaces may be available for lunches, as needed, and in case of inclement weather. Ask a staff member for help at check-in. 

Field trip preview

Check out the virtual tour of the Commandant's House to preview the historic fort. 

Watch the 17 minute orientation film Where the Waters Meet at your school before your visit.