Field trips | What's new? | Chief Richardville House | Classroom tools

Field Trips Mean Hands-on Fun

Teachers of all grades can reinforce their lessons with a field trip where children MAY touch and history class lessons come to life through all the senses:

• See the sword given to Miami chief Little Turtle by President George Washington
• Hear the roaring machines from Fort Wayne's Industrial Age
• Feel the cold bars of the jail cells down in "The Calaboose"
  

Making candles just like they did in the olden days

Every day should be free day
No more hassling the PTA or parents for field trip support. Thanks to the Olive B. Cole Foundation and our own Heritage Education Fund, admission to The History Center is free for all K-12 school groups from Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben (Indiana) counties through spring 2008. Admission for school groups outside these counties is discounted at $2 per person. All groups will be provided with an orientation, interpretation, and free educational materials.

Transportation and admission costs to The History Center and the Allen County Courthouse are free for FWCS and EACS 4th grade classes visiting through the "Fall in Love with Fort Wayne" program, with a grant from the Goldstine Foundation.

What's New for 2008?

Made in Allen County Exhibit
Did you know the "electric pig" (a.k.a. garbage disposal) was invented in Fort Wayne? Learn about the many innovations in our history.

Student Archives
Students tire of being told they should "touch with their eyes, not with their hands." Now they can conduct research on historic artifacts, and they don't even have to wear white gloves!

Student Lunchroom
We're the only downtown educational site where students can enjoy their brown bag lunches. This time-saver helps teachers fit two or more museum visits into a day.

Chief Richardville House

This 1827 house of a Miami chief is a powerful teaching tool. The group rate is $4/person.

• Students will learn about why it is so important for our history and culture.
• They will meet a Miami Indian descendant of Chief Richardville who will speak on the tribe's history and culture and how it relates to the house.
• They can study the Greek Revival architecture and literally see layers of history from the perspective of a preservationist.
• They will learn how each of the rooms was used for daily life in the 1830s and see a variety of historical artifacts, including some discovered in archeological digs on the site.
• Demonstrations can be tailored for all ages, from elementary school through college-level history courses.

Participants pose for a class picture during History Camp

Classroom Tools

Teachers can help prepare their students or keep the memories of their field trip alive with these collections designed for the classroom. Be sure to book these items well in advance.

Miami Indian Artifact Trunk - contains touchable artifacts, images, reading materials, activities, and lesson plans related to several periods of Miami history.

Traveling Image Case - contains nearly 200 pictures, paintings, documents, maps, and artifacts from Allen County history displayed on hard-backed panels with accompanying text.

Sign up today for a variety of experiences designed to delight and illuminate while meeting state and federal academic standards.

For more information about programs:
Todd Pelfrey, director of education 260.426.2882 ext. 311

To schedule a visit or to reserve the trunk or case described above:
260.426.2882

A young lady learns to throw the atlatl just as her ancestors did when they hunted for food