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 Request a Tour form at the bottom of this page.
School Tour Policies:
- There must be one chaperone for every 10 students; chaperone tickets are free. Please let the Sales Coordinator know how many chaperones will be attending.
- Sensory-friendly tours available upon request.
- 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.
- 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 2024-25 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 closed days or after hours is an additional $150
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 EXPERIENCE
We offer educators the opportunity to guide students as they explore our exhibits, examine artifacts, and uncover Detroit’s maritime history on their own. With a scavenger hunt experience, teachers and chaperones work with small groups of students to facilitate engagement with the museum’s permanent exhibits. A scavenger hunt is a fun addition to a day at the museum!
- Length: we estimate your students will need 60-90 minutes at the museum
- Tour times: Friday - Saturday, 10am-4pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm
- Capacity: 75 students* per field trip
- Cost: $6 per student* (includes general admission)
*Note: One teacher/chaperone is required for every 10 students and their tickets are free!
Additional chaperones: free for self-led tours and scavenger hunts.
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 grade and up
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!
- Length: Guided tours are about an hour; we recommend staying a maximum of one additional hour to allow students to explore the museum.
- Tour times: Available Friday (Fall - Spring) and Wednesday-Friday (Summer) at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm as staffing allows.
- Max Capacity: 25 students per tour; multiple tours may be available per timeslot.
- Cost: $6 students* (includes general admission)
*Note: One teacher/chaperone is required for every 10 students and is free! Additional chaperones: $8 per adult
Download our Maritime History Field Trip Guide for more info 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.
