Field Trips

Education Programs

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.

Request a Visit

Locations:

Capitol (600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.):

45-50 minutes
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.

Fall 2019: Reservations Open August 5, 2019

Spring 2020: Reservations Open September 9, 2019 - New Programs Coming Soon!

20-90 students
90 minutes

90-150 students
60-90 minutes

Hands-on class activity - 40 minutes

(choose one from the following)

Museum Gallery Exploration

(scavenger hunts available)

Museum Gallery Exploration - 40 minutes

(scavenger hunts available)

Programming for groups of this size will begin Spring 2020!

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 Program Descriptions

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.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long do field trips last?

State Capitol Tour: Approximately 45 minutes.

State Museum: Approximately 1-2 hours.

Military Branch Museum: Approximately 45 minutes.

If your group is planning on visiting the Capitol or the Military Branch and the State Museum, please allow for 15 minutes travel time between sites.

Where do buses park?

Visits to the Tennessee State Museum, State Capitol, or Military Branch Museum issued a parking permit will park on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (formerly known as Charlotte Ave.) between 6^th and 7^th Ave. in front of the Tennessee State Capitol.

Buses may not, at any time, park at or around Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park or the Nashville Farmers' Market.

Do buses need a permit to park in front of the Capitol?

Yes. All 15 passenger vans and buses parking on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (formerly Charlotte Ave.) MUST have a Metro Parking Permit. Permits will be emailed between one to seven days before the date of the visit.

Can chaperones park on the street with the buses?

No. Private vehicles may not park on the street with the buses. Chaperones can either park in parking areas around the Capitol, or they may park at the State Museum.

Where can we eat lunch?

Groups can eat in the designated lunch area outside on the grounds of the museum or they may eat on the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park lawn. There are no indoor eating facilities at the Tennessee State Capitol, State Museum, or Military Branch Museum.

Can we eat lunch at Farmers' Market?

Student groups are only allowed to eat at the Nashville Farmers' Market if they are purchasing lunch on-site. Outside lunches may NOT be eaten at the Farmers' Market.

How much does a field trip cost?

Entry to any location is entirely free for students, teachers, and chaperones.

Any questions we didn’t answer?

Email us at public.programs@tn.gov.