CURRENT HOURS: CLOSED FOR GENERAL SEASON; OPEN MAY 1, 2019
Learning Excursion trips for schools, homeschools, and youth groups connect youth of all ages to Midwestern rural life experiences. Offered in spring, summer, and fall during our regular season, these curriculum-connected tours are based on the State Board of Education’s social studies standards.
Reservations for the 2018 – 2019 school year may be made beginning on August 1, 2018.
Availability* Only for summer schools, year-round schools, and school-affiliated summer programs; please email adminasst@lhf.org for details. Otherwise, please find our youth group tour information here.
General TourFees: Grades 2-12
| Fall 2018 | $7.75 per student |
| Spring 2019 | $8.25 per student |
Tour Length: 4 hours, including lunch.
This tour combines stops at the 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, and 1900 Horse-Powered Farm with visits to as many town buildings as time allows. The interdependence of and connections between farm and town are stressed.
To request a reservation, fill out the form below.
300 Year Farm TourFees: Grades K-12
| Fall 2018 | $7.50 per student |
| Spring 2019 | $8.00 per student |
Group Size: No more than 4 homerooms/100 students may book this tour at one time
Tour Length: 2.5 hours, including lunch.
Experience first-hand the changes in farming over time as you visit the 1700 Ioway Indian Farm, 1850 Pioneer Farm, 1900 Horse-Powered Farm, and the Wallace Exhibit Center. Themes tie the farms together, making connections and comparisons easier for students.
To request a reservation, fill out the form below.
Fees: Grades K-12
| Fall 2018 | $7.00 per student |
| Spring 2019 | $7.50 per student |
Group Size: No more than 4 homerooms/100 students may book this tour at one time
Tour Length: 2.5 hours, including lunch.
Students visit businesses, trade sites, and homes typical of an 1875 town. Themes tie the stops at the various buildings together, making comparisons and connections easier for students.
To request a reservation, fill out the form below.
SchoolhouseFees: Grades 3-12 , can be adapted for homeschool families
| Fall 2018 | $7.00 per student |
| Spring 2019 | $7.50 per student |
Group Size: No more than 1 group/12-25 students may book this program at one time
Tour Length: 2 hours, not including lunch.
Spelling bees, recitation, reading from McGuffey Readers, and arithmetic problems on a slate are lessons students will do when they visit the one-room schoolhouse.
To request a reservation, fill out the form below.
Summer schools, year-round schools, and school-affiliated summer programs, if you would like to sign up for a tour during June, July, and August, please email adminasst@lhf.org for details. Schools with a traditional calendar may make reservations for the 2018-2019 school year beginning on August 1, 2018. Requests for reservation made less than three weeks prior to your visit are not eligible for group tour discounts.
Reminder, Living History Farms is open from 9:00am – 4:00pm. Arrive no later than 1:45pm if you want to see all three of the historic farms.
Our curriculum-connected tours are based on the State Board of Education’s social studies standards:
Find out more about these standards in this document: Learning Excursions and Iowa Core Curriculum.
Please read over all of the following information before requesting a reservation.
Policies: Please read our program policies, including the cancellation policy, behavior guidelines, payment info, and more.
K-12 Policies & Procedures
Iowa Core: Find out how these tours fit into the social studies section of the Iowa Core Curriculum.
Learning Excursions and Iowa Core Curriculum
Code of Conduct: During your visit, you agree that your group, including adults, will abide by the Museum Code of Conduct.
Museum Code of Conduct
Leader’s Guide: You will also receive a pre-tour Leader’s Guide via email. It is vital that you read this information prior to your visit.
| School Covers Fee | Parent Covers Fee | |
| Fall 2018 | $14.75/person | $15.75/person |
| Spring 2019 | $15.00/person | $16.00/person |
If the school is paying for any parents/adults, the cost is $14.75 each in Fall 2018 or $15.00 each in Spring 2019. Parents not paid for by the school will individually pay full price, $15.75 in Fall 2018 or $16.00 in Spring 2019. We suggest parents pre-purchase general admission online and arrive 10-15 minutes early with their payment confirmation to make check-in at the admissions booth as fast as possible.
Worry Free Lunches: Save time and hassle by pre-ordering your lunch from Living History Farms! Order Lunches
Pre-order souvenirs: Make taking home souvenirs from your visit easy, by pre-ordering stick candy, sarsaparilla, pencils and more! Shop LHF souvenirs