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- Field Trips: Alexander Ramsey House
- Field Trips: Charles Lindbergh House and Museum
- Field Trips: Forest History Center
- Field Trips: Historic Forestville
- Field Trips: Historic Fort Snelling
- 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
- Field Trips: Minnesota State Capitol
- Field Trips: Oliver Kelley Farm
- Field Trips: Snake River Fur Post
- Field Trips: Split Rock Lighthouse
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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.
Please note: Grainland closed Summer of 2025. Stay tuned for information about the upcoming new exhibit.
Already booked?
Here is all you’ll need to know to Prepare for Your Field Trip!
Minnesota History Center
345 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102
View on map | Bus directions and parking | Current exhibits
Available Year Round
- Fall: Wednesday - Friday
- Winter: Wednesday - Friday
- Spring, April through June 12: Tuesday - Friday
- Summer: Wednesday - Friday
Suggested visit time: 3 hours
Capacity: 700 students per day
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.
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
-
Museum lessons details
When I Was a Kid
Grades K-3
This lesson puts students in the shoes of Minnesota kids growing up during the Great Depression. Through the use of artifacts, photos, and primary sources, students explore themes of family, work, education, and play while comparing life in the 1930s to today.Native Americans and the Fur Trade
Grades 3-8
Discover how Minnesota became a hub of global trade. Students learn about the roles of the people who lived and worked in the fur trade through artifacts, images, and active participation.Dakota Wakanyeza / Dakota Children
Grades K-3
Using storytelling, role-play, and artifact analysis, students explore the lives of Dakota children growing up around 1860 and consider the experiences of Dakota children today.They Chose Minnesota
Grades 4-12
Explore the economic and political “push and pull” factors that have influenced immigration to our state and then examine trunks with cherished objects that families have brought on their journey.Minnesota’s State Symbols!
Grades K-6
This new lesson has students explore the stories of Minnesota’s official state symbols by participating in a quiz show and learning about the process for creating a state symbol. Then students get to make a state symbol themed craft and vote on what they would nominate as Minnesota’s next state symbol!
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. Summer 2026 reservations open February 2026.
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 student
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.