School Tours & Programs
The Dossin Great Lakes Museum provides engaging field trip experiences for students. Aligned with state standards, our tours and programs will enhance any curriculum. Please fill out the Register for a Tour form at the bottom of this page.
School Tour Policies:
- There must be one chaperone for every 10 students; these tickets are free. Please let the Sales Coordinator know how many chaperones will be attending.
- Should you need to reschedule or cancel your reservation, please contact our education team as soon as possible (education@detroithistorical.org), so we can accommodate your reservation changes.
- We ask that self-led groups of more than 15 call to make a group booking. This allows us to plan staffing accordingly. Groups without a reservation may not be granted access to the museum.
- Guided tours and programs must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance; self-led tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
- Guided tours are for grades 3 through college.
- Payment can be made over the phone with a credit card, via Venmo, or via check according to your institution’s payment procedures.
Download our 2023-24 School Programs Planning Guide
On-Site Prices (includes general admission):
- Self-Led Experience for 15 or more students: $5 per student
Use of museum spaces on Mondays or after hours is an additional charge
Virtual options may be available. Please contact the Education Department at education@detroithistorical.org.
Self-Led Experiences
We offer educators the opportunity to guide students as they explore our exhibits, examine artifacts and uncover Detroit’s history on their own. In our self-led experiences, teachers and chaperones work with small groups of students to facilitate activities provided by the museums.
Scavenger Hunt
Our Education Team has curated a self-led Scavenger Hunt experience. Students can work independently or in small groups to complete the scavenger hunt and uncover Detroit’s history on their own. Teachers and chaperones facilitate completion of the Scavenger Hunt.
GUIDED TOURS
Museum educators lead students through an interactive tour of key museum exhibits. The tours have been designed to meet Grade Level Content Expectations and Common Core Standards for grades 3 – 8, but our tour guides can accommodate students in grades 3 through college.
Maritime and River History Tour
Recommended for 3rd - 12th grade
Whether by birch bark canoe, sailing ship, steamboat, hydroplane or giant freighter, people have used the Detroit River and Great Lakes for thousands of years to support hunting, travel, commerce, and leisure. On this tour, guests will discover artifacts, rooms from real ships, and interactive displays that share the importance of local waterways to the many populations that have called Detroit home!
- Capacity: 25 students per tour; multiple tours may be available per timeslot
- Tour times: Wednesday - Friday at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. as staffing allows
- Length: estimated 60 minutes
- Cost: $6 students, $8 additional chaperones *Note: For every 10 students, one teacher/chaperone is free!
Download our Maritime History Field Trip Guide for more information and pre-visit lesson plans.
How to Book a Field Trip
Please fill out the form below and a member of the Education team will respond to schedule.
