Field Trips: Minnesota History Center

Field Trips: Minnesota History Center

History comes to life through interactive exhibits and specialized lessons for your students. The History Center offers a full menu of programs designed to meet your grade level’s needs.

Your students may access all of our interactive exhibits, including Then Now Wow, Minnesota’s Greatest Generation, Weather Permitting, Our Home: Native Minnesota, and special exhibits. In addition, you may choose to add a classroom lesson.

Already booked?

Here is all you’ll need to know to Prepare for Your Field Trip!

Request a field trip

Minnesota History Center

345 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102
View on map | Bus directions and parking | Current exhibits

651-259-3400
fieldtrips@mnhs.org

Available Year Round

  • Fall, Winter & Summer: Wednesday - Friday
  • Spring: Tuesday - Friday

Suggested visit time: 3 hours

Cost

  • $8 per student   
  • +$2 per lesson per student
  • $80-$120 minimum group fee (depending on program)
  • District staff FREE
  • One free adult per five students. Additional chaperones invoiced at student rate.
Admission costs are for anyone age 4 and over.
Memberships and 6th grade passes are not valid on field trip days.

Enhance your field trip

Museum lessons

Add fun and focus to your museum visit with a classroom lesson. 

Connect students with the real stuff of history — documents, photos, objects and more!

  • Add $2 per person
  • Maximum 30 students per lesson
  • All lessons are 50 minutes
Four students wearing helmets in the history center exhibit.

Grainland

Staff leads students (grades K-5) in a 15-minute exploration of Grainland, tracing the journey of wheat, corn and soybeans from farm to town to grain elevator. Climb through a replica grain elevator where bins and chutes are replaced with steps and tunnels and curving nooks and crannies. 

Available first come first serve, by appointment only.

Lunch

Add time to your experience to eat lunch on-site. Lunch space is available at no additional charge. Reservations required due to space limitation. 

  • Lunch periods (25 minutes) are scheduled on the half hour from 11 am - 1:30 pm (weekdays only).
  • There are no vending machines, refrigerators or microwaves for school group use.
  • Groups from multiple schools may share lunchroom space.

Weather permitting, outdoor lunch space is available beginning mid-April. In the case of inclement weather, indoor lunch accommodations will not be made for groups without a prior reservation.

Explore!

Scavenger hunt that helps students dig deeper into exhibit content.
Pre-K (PDF)  |  1-2 (PDF)  |  3-4 (PDF)  |  5-6 (PDF)  | 7-12 (PDF)

Academic standards

All programs support state of Minnesota academic standards in social studies.

Summer Programming : Historic Games!

Available June - August. 

Add this experience to your summer field trip! Children play games from the Great Depression in this 25-minute outdoor program, designed specifically for school aged care groups. 

  • Grades K-6
  • Add $2 per person

Please note : Historic Games are outdoors, weather permitting. 

Scholarships

See if you’re eligible for scholarships or discounts, and apply on our Scholarships and Subsidies Page.

Billing and cancellation

No payment will be accepted the day of the field trip. All schools will be invoiced after their trip based on the projected attendance numbers provided by the lead contact 14 days prior to the scheduled visit. To avoid fees, cancellations must be received 14 days before your trip.

For more information see our Program Policies.

Questions?

Please contact our staff at fieldtrips@mnhs.org or schedule an appointment. All booking requests must be submitted through our Request Form.