Museum field trips
School groups and homeschool groups are welcome to visit the Vermont History Museum and its award-winning permanent exhibit, Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories. This exhibit covers over 400 years of Vermont history. Students can explore an Abenaki wigwam, examine the impact of the railroad, and immerse themselves in a World War-II era living room.
Before a visit
Before a visit students can view an online version of our permanent exhibit, Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories at www.freedomandunity.org.
Museum tours
At the museum, student groups can participate in a guided tour or self-guided tour of Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories free of charge. Most guided tours are 75 minutes long and include a choice of one of the following hands-on focus activities:
• Abenaki Daily Life
• Merinos to Mittens
• Meaning in Morse Code
Click here (PDF) for more detailed descriptions of the focus activities.
Hands-on workshops
Hands-on workshops are also available for educational groups for a small fee. “You be the Historian,” geared toward students in grades 4 through 8, allows students to use the skills and tools of historians (researchers, curators, and archaeologists) to learn about the lives of a 19th-century Vermont farm family. This 60-minute program costs $2 per student. Some examples of additional hands-on workshops available for student groups include:
• Town Meeting Day simulation
• Back to the Land
• Abenaki Oral Traditions
Vermont State House and Vermont Supreme Court
Many student groups combine their visit to the Vermont History Museum with a tour of the nearby Vermont State House or Vermont Supreme Court. For more information about these programs, please contact Vivien Fritz, the State House School Tours Coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (802) 828-1411.
Schedule a visit
Museum field trips must be scheduled in advance with a minimum of 10 participants required for guided tours and hands-on workshops. For more information about museum field trips or to schedule a visit to the Vermont History Museum, please contact Kathleen D’Aquila at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (802) 828-2180.
