Missouri History Museum

Planning a visit to the Museum? Call our hotline at (314) 361-9017 or make your reservation online. Be sure to make a reservation, even if you don't need a guide! All school visits must be arranged in advance, whether guided or self-guided. Groups without advance reservations cannot be assured that their preferred galleries or times will be available, and are not eligible for free tickets to paid exhibitions. Don't miss out--call our reservations hotline at (314) 361-9017 today!

Questions about our school programs? Call Education Coordinator Lisa Gilbert at (314) 454-3116 for all the answers.

K-12 Programs: 2012-2013 Brochure

Curious about what's coming up this school year? Download a printable version of our K-12 brochure here.

Educator E-newsletter

Sign up for our teacher e-newsletter and stay up-to-date on special events, educator workshops, and resources for your classroom.

Gallery + Classroom Programs

Our guided programs combine a 1-hour gallery tour with a 1-hour classroom project to create meaningful student experiences.  We offer these high-quality educational programs at no cost to schools, thanks to generous support from Museum members, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District, and sponsors.

Special Exhibits

• Civil War in Missouri: Drums and Decisions (K-5)
• Civil War in Missouri: A Memory Divided (6-12)
• Question Bridge: Black Males (6-12)

Ongoing Exhibits

• Seeking St. Louis: Celebrating Missouri (K-5, spring 2013)

Gallery + Theatre

Adding dramatic flair to your classroom? Download the list of available performances here.

"Going Beyond the Scavenger Hunt" guide

Looking for ways to engage your students in a self-guided experience?  Download our guide to meaningful museum experiences.

"History to Our Ears" recital

Students interested in auditioning for our community recital program can download the application form here.

"Teaching About Slavery" cohort

Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln: this fall, the Museum’s displays will include images of three presidents who made crucial decisions with regards to slavery in America.  How are we to evaluate their roles in creating, sustaining, and finally ending the enslavement of millions?  We invite you to join a supportive group of K–12 teachers in search of answers to this question. We’ll use primary sources, discussion, and top-notch facilitators to find our way through this subject.

Meetings will be held 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on 9/25, 10/23, 11/13, and 12/4.  Download the application and send it back by August 31 to be considered for one of the limited spaces in this cohort. Those who complete the course will receive a free one-year membership to the Museum.

2011 cohort participant feedback:

• "I grew each week I came."
• "Resources and information shared with other instructors will forever change my approach to teaching slavery."
• "This last [session] on agency was valuable as I realized another aspect of the slavery story that I need to develop in my own teaching."

"Portrait of Leadership" Program

Interested in the coming exhibit Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon? Extend your students' learning throughout the school year by participating in the Portrait of Leadership program!

This program brings Mount Vernon to your school by providing a beautifully framed 30” x 36” canvas replica of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of George Washington, accompanied by a Celebration Kit containing lesson plans and activities for students in grades K–12, as well as a flag that has been flown over Mount Vernon.

Participation in this program is free thanks to the generous support of Mount Vernon. In order to participate in the portrait program, Mount Vernon requires that each school principal send a letter—on school letterhead—indicating that the school wishes to receive a portrait and where it plans to display it. These letters may be sent to:

Missouri History Museum
Attn: Portrait of Leadership
P.O. Box 11940
St. Louis, MO 63112

Bus Transportation Grants

Thanks to the generous support of Mount Vernon and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, we’re able to underwrite the full cost of buses for eligible schools.  Schools must bring a minimum of 40 students to Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon to qualify for these funds.  Public and parochial schools qualify for this program.  Rural schools are encouraged to apply.  Funds are limited, so reserve your place on our calendar as soon as possible!

Download the bus fund reimbursement form, check the eligibility requirements carefully, and be sure to request a bus fund code when you make your reservation.  We are unable to reimburse schools whose applications do not meet the grant requirements, so please be sure to ask any and all questions before your visit!

Homeschool Days

The Missouri History Museum welcomes homeschool families.  Parents can download the 2012-2013 school year schedule here and sign up for our homeschool e-newsletter here.