Booking a History Lab Class Visit

• Pick three possible dates for your field trip (since we can't guarantee that your 1st/2nd choice will be available). History Lab visits are usually booked at 9:30am, 11:00am, and 12:30pm, Tuesday-Friday.
• Fees for History Lab programs are $5 per student, with one adult per five students admitted free. Extra adults pay $5 each.
• Call 253/798-5876 to confirm availability of dates and make your reservation, OR book dates online using our Reservation Form. A new window will open, and you will directed to our Washington State History Museum site to reserve a class tour.
  Note: School groups who are not prebooked will not be able to visit the History Lab or participate in its special programs.
• Watch for your confirmation letter and field trip materials to arrive shortly after the reservation is made.

How History Lab Field Trips Work

Classes are booked for the History Lab Tuesday-Friday, with starting times at 9:30AM, 11:00AM, and 12:30PM. Each group is scheduled for a 1.5 hour block of time. Classes who make a History Lab reservation are also admitted to the Hall of Washington History and the temporary exhibits as time allows.

When booking your class for the History Lab, we require:

• A minimum group size of 10 students, maximum group size of 30 students
• One adult chaperone for every 5 students visiting the museum; for each 5 students, one adult will get in free
• Teacher familiarity with the concepts and tools of historical inquiry as taught in the History Lab. Short explanations of the concepts and tools are provided in pre-visit materials. See the article, "Inquiry in Action: Building the Washington State Historical Society's History Lab Learning Center."

Teacher Materials

The It's About Time printed curriculum and "Three Faces of Time" video will be provided to each teacher who books a visit to the History Lab Learning Center. The curriculum contains lesson plans for elementary and secondary students, reference materials, and suggestions for post-visit activities and projects. A special accompanying "Time Resource Kit" is also available online.

Teachers are also encouraged to plan a pre-visit to the Lab or participate in one of our teacher workshops in order to become fully familiar with History Lab methodology.

Admission Rates & Cancellation Policy

History Lab class visits cost $5 per student. One adult chaperone will get in free for every five students. Any additional adults traveling with your group will pay the regular museum admission of $5. Cancellations may be made with 30 or more days notice. Cancellations made with 29-14 days notice incur a $50 penalty fee. Cancellations made with less than 14 days notice will be charged the full balance of the field trip.

What to Expect

Class programs in the History Lab feature special, grade-appropriate "History Mysteries." Each hour-and-a-half visit begins with a short orientation to the museum, its exhibit galleries, and the concepts and tools of historical inquiry. Classes are introduced to Inspecta Detecta, our virtual curator, and view the 16-minute video, "The Three Faces of Time." Through a special transmission from Inspecta Detecta, students embark on a mission to solve a History Mystery using the entire History Lab Learning Center. This program is fully facilitated by WSHM staff and volunteers, and chaperones are encouraged to become active "time detectives" as well. Groups scheduled for the History Lab will be met by a History Lab Assistant and escorted to the 5th floor to begin the program. It takes a full 1 1/2 hours to complete the History Lab program, so plan on a minimum museum visit time of two hours. This will allow for arrival and departure time as well as a quick lunch.

Bag Rule
Please bring bags and backpacks that are no larger than 8.5" x 11". For those teachers needing to carry students' medication with them, we will have red fanny packs for you to borrow from the Security Office.

General Museum Information for School Groups

Address & Phone

Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
General Information Line: 253/272-3500 or 1-888-BE-THERE
Field Trip Reservation Line: 253/798-5876
Hours: Visit http://www.wshs.org/wshm/ for current museum hours.

Just planning a visit to the Hall of Washington History or one of our temporary exhibitions? Go to: http://www.wshs.org/wshm/wshm-ftrip.htm

Author: SL
Last Modified: