On this page, you can find information about Field Trips and Frequently Asked Questions.
Field Trips
There is no better way to learn Tennessee history than to experience it! We invite you to create your own Tennessee learning adventure with a trip to the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Capitol. Not only will history come to life for your students, but all educational programs offered are strictly aligned to the Tennessee Department of Education’s State Social Studies Standards.
Requesting Your Visit
A visit to the Tennessee State Museum, State Capitol, and Military Museum is FREE. However, you must reserve a specific date and time through the museum’s scheduling office AND obtain a confirmation letter from the museum.
There are two ways to request a field trip to the Tennessee State Museum. You may request online by clicking here to complete the reservation form. You may also call our scheduling desk at 615-741-0830.
Locations:
Capitol (600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.):
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45-50 minutes
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20-200 students
On a field trip to the Tennessee State Capitol, your students will join an educator on a 45 minute long guided tour. The tour will cover the history of the state of Tennessee, state and local government, and interesting stories of the building itself.
Tennessee State Museum (1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.):
A field trip to the Tennessee State Museum is the best way to experience Tennessee history. We strongly recommend planning for at least 90–120 minutes to visit the museum. Different options are available for groups depending on size and time. Please review the chart below to see how best to schedule your visit.
For all other groups: Please fill out the online reservation form and our scheduling coordinator will work with you on options best suited for your group.
Museum Gallery Exploration:
The best way to see the museum is by experiencing the interactive galleries. Students will use a grade level appropriate scavenger hunt that leads them through all five permanent galleries. On their journey they will see real artifacts like Daniel Boone’s musket, Andrew Jackson’s top hat and Dolly Parton’s suit, all while engaging with exhibit interactives, and talking with educators stationed throughout.
Hands-On Classes (limited to student groups with 90 or less):
Artifact Detectives - Grades 3-8
Can you uncover the clues to Tennessee’s past? Students will analyze mysterious artifacts, identify what they are, make inferences and draw conclusions about them, and explain their historical context.
Weaving and Spinning - Grades K-3
On the frontier, everyone had a job to do. Find out just how much work went into surviving on the frontier by looking at just one chore: clothes making.
Civil War Spy - Grades 4-8
The life of a spy is never easy, even in the Civil War. Students must work together to decode messages, find hidden clues, and learn how important gathering information was on the war effort.
Are there any questions we didn't answer? If so, please contact Public.Programs@tn.gov