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- Field Trips: Alexander Ramsey House
- Field Trips: Charles Lindbergh House and Museum
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- Field Trips: James J. Hill House
- Field Trips: Jeffers Petroglyphs
- Field Trips: Mill City Museum
- Field Trips: Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post
- Field Trips: Minnesota History Center
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- Field Trips: Oliver Kelley Farm
- Field Trips: Snake River Fur Post
- Field Trips: Split Rock Lighthouse
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Prepare for Your James J. Hill House 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 directions and parking information with bus drivers and chaperones.Bus and chaperone parking is free along Summit Avenue and adjacent streets.
The area immediately in front of the site on Summit Avenue is designated 2-hour parking for visitors. Please do not let buses idle.
When you arrive at the James J. Hill House
- Buses can drop off groups in front of James J. Hill House.
- Send the group leader to check-in at the front desk. Please have students and additional adults gather outside under the covered portico in front of the main entrance.
- Be prepared to give an accurate count of the number of students, school staff, and chaperones.
- Staff will then let you inside into the main hall for a brief orientation before your tours begin.
Accessibility
The James J. Hill House 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.
- The house is wheelchair accessible by a ramp on the left side of the building. Stairs and an elevator are available to travel between floors.
- Public restrooms with accessible stalls are available in the basement.
- American Sign Language interpreters are available with two weeks’ notice.
Review the James J. Hill House Field Trip Social Narrative to prepare your group.
Learn more about accessibility at the James J. Hill House.
Chaperone tips
- Ensure chaperones know their schedule, including arrival, departure, and program times.
- Preview: Send them the link to the James J. Hill House webpage to get them excited about their day and familiar with the house.
- Assign students to specific chaperones.
Chaperones are responsible for the conduct of the students they are accompanying. Students are required to remain with their chaperones at all times.
James J. Hill House museum manners
- Walk and stay with your group to ensure everyone stays safe.
- Use indoor voices so everyone can hear and learn.
- Only plain water is allowed in sealed bottles in the house (no food).
- Be respectful of staff, each other, your chaperones and other visitors.
- Protect historic objects by only touching when a staff member says it's okay.
- Turn cell-phones to vibrate or silent during the field trip.
Lunch
Reach out to fieldtrips@mnhs.org if you’d like to add lunch to your visit schedule. Schools are welcome to picnic on the lawn at James J. Hill House.
Field trip preview
Preview the 36,500 square foot home with the virtual tour!
Questions?
Please contact our staff at fieldtrips@mnhs.org or schedule an appointment. All booking requests must be submitted through our Request Form.