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Field Trips and Museum Tours at the Oklahoma History Center

Get the most out of your field trip!

Learn about ways to explore the museum and connect with Oklahoma Academic Standards.

Teachers’ Gallery Guides
Museum Activity Sheets
Map and Rules Sheet (PDF)
Chaperone Letter (PDF)
Bus Driver Information (PDF)


Come investigate Oklahoma’s past! We recommend school groups explore the museum using one of our activity sheets. Oklahoma History Center exhibits and programs address the majority of Oklahoma Academic Standards for every subject! Use our teachers’ gallery guides and pre-visit/follow-up lessons to plan your field trip.

Book School Field Trips     Book Adult Group Tours

Field Trips and Tours

Costs

Thanks to a grant from the Inasmuch Foundation, Oklahoma public, private, and homeschool groups of ten or more who schedule their field trips with the education department at least two weeks in advance will receive free admission for students, teachers, and chaperones. Chaperones must be at least eighteen years of age and we recommend a student to teacher/chaperone ratio of 5:1, but require 10:1.

Groups that do not schedule their visit with the museum will pay the posted admission fees. General admission to the Oklahoma History Center is $12.50 for adults and $9 for seniors, students, and adult groups of ten or more. Veterans and active-duty military receive free admission with ID.

Scheduling Questions

Should you have any questions or need to revise or cancel your reservation, please contact the education department at 405-522-0798 or education@history.ok.gov.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

The Oklahoma History Center follows all appropriate CDC and Oklahoma State Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations on public safety, cleaning practices, and approved cleaning products. We ask that you do not enter the Oklahoma History Center if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell and use appropriate handwashing techniques.

We have implemented the following procedures to keep visitors, staff, and volunteers as safe as possible. Restrooms are cleaned and sanitized twice per day, and public counters, door handles, water fountains, elevator buttons, handrails, and light switches are sanitized daily. Also, hand-sanitizing stations are located throughout the building.

Lunch

The cafe is currently closed, but picnic areas are available to school groups on a first come, first served basis. Teachers should coordinate lunch times with Oklahoma History Center staff.

Museum Store

The museum store offers a wide variety of books, hats, jewelry, t-shirts, and toys, with many items priced under $10. In addition, educators will find numerous resources to help enhance their students’ learning experience in the classroom. Students must be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone to shop in the Museum Store. The Museum Store is limited to 20 students at one time, so we ask chaperones to spread store visits throughout the field trip.

Accessibility and Social Story

Complimentary wheelchairs, audio tours, audio tour scripts, and large-print versions of exhibition labels are available. Please ask at the Information Desk. View our social story to prepare for your visit: Webpage | PDF | MS PowerPoint

Directions

The Oklahoma History Center is conveniently located on the northeast corner of NE 23rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard, across the street from the Oklahoma Capitol. For details, view the Google map of our location.
Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Pre-Visit Planning

  1. Print the pre-visit planning activity and complete with your students. Pre-Visit Lesson Plan 1 | Pre-Visit Lesson Plan 2
  2. Print the map and rules sheet to review museum etiquette with your students before your visit, and as a handy guide for chaperones to use during the field trip.
  3. Visit our website for current information on exhibits.
  4. Confirm your reservation and lunch requirements.
  5. Assign each student to a chaperone. We recommend a ratio of students to teachers/chaperones of 5:1, but require 10:1. We’ve put together a letter for field trip chaperones with rules and important information.
    Download the letter to chaperones (PDF).
  6. View the map and information for bus drivers (PDF).
  7. Ensure that you have our museum admissions telephone number (405-522-0765). Please call if your group runs late or is unable to make it.

On the Way to the Museum

  1. Make sure you know how to get to the museum; see the directions section above.
  2. Confirm your plans for the museum visit with your students, staff, and chaperones.
  3. Remind students of museum etiquette.

Upon Arrival

  1. When you arrive, please pull buses up to the front doors and take a separate count of students, teachers, and chaperones before unloading the buses.
  2. Be aware of the weather. For security purposes, the doors will not open until 10 a.m. Please do not unload buses if you arrive before 10 a.m.
  3. Meet chaperones and make a note of the number to give to the front desk.
  4. Students should line up by class outside the Oklahoma History Center.
  5. Please consolidate sack lunches and place them where museum staff direct.

Plan Follow-Up Activities

  1. During the field trip, students will explore many aspects of Oklahoma’s rich history. Plan activities to follow up and reinforce what they have learned.
  2. Print the follow-up activity and complete it with your students.
  3. Take our field trip survey.

Activity Sheets

Activity sheets offer students and families a unique way to explore the museum at their own pace. Our activity sheets provide educators the tools necessary to evaluate the student’s learning experience. For families, they provide themes or guidance for locating artifacts. Please feel free to modify activity sheets to fit your needs. Make sure you print your sheets within one week of your visit to ensure you have the most recent version. All activity sheets are in PDF format.

Teachers’ Gallery Guides

Oklahoma History Center programs directly address Oklahoma Academic Standards and correlate with Oklahoma History Center exhibits.

Galleries and Exhibit Areas