Plan a Field Trip

The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) has a lot to offer schools, and planning your trip in advance can greatly enhance your experience on our history campus. Scheduling for the school year begins in August.



Field Trip Options
Review the Field Trip Programs Guide to determine which programs best fit your needs.

How to Schedule Your School Visit
All guided and self-guided groups must make reservations two weeks in advance. Reservations are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and tend to fill up quickly. Please make your reservation as early as possible.

To make a reservation, complete the Field Trip Reservation Form and submit it by fax or mail. Fax forms to 502-564-4701. Forms sent by mail should be addressed as follows: Tour Coordinator, Kentucky Historical Society, 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Scheduling Multiple Classes
When scheduling for multiple classes or large groups (more than 40), please be aware that groups may need to be divided in order to maneuver through gallery spaces.

Fees and Payment
Self-Guided Programs: $2 per student, teacher and chaperone. The school admission fee includes a self-guided experience in the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.

Guided Programs: $3 per student, teacher and chaperone. This fee includes all guided programs and Old State Capitol tours.

Payment is made upon check-in at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. Payment may be made by cash, check (made out to the Kentucky Historical Society), credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) or purchase order.

A full refund will be given for cancellations.

Kentucky Junior Historical Society
Schools that pay full admission for guided tours have the option of enrolling students in the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) at no additional cost. Scholarship money cannot be used for KJHS membership fees. KJHS is a student program administered by KHS that encourages Kentucky students to appreciate and understand the people, places and events that have given Kentucky its own unique place in history.

By becoming a KJHS member students will receive a copy of the Timeline enewsletter and a membership card that entitles the holder to free admission to the KHS history campus as well as free or reduced admission to many museums and historic sites around the state. Learn more on the KJHS page.

Scholarships
If 50% or more of the students enrolled in your school qualify for a free or reduced lunch, KHS will grant a scholarship to that school to cover admission fees to the KHS history campus for students, and up to 10 adults with the visiting group from that school. Teachers must complete the scholarship application prior to their visit and fax it to the attention of Museum Tours at 502-564-4701. View the scholarship application here.

Cancellations and Rescheduling
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call the Tour Coordinator at 502-564-1792, ext. 4424 or KHStours@ky.gov as soon as possible. Although we will do our best to reschedule your appointment, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your first request.

Contact Us
Call 502-564-1792, ext. 4424 or e-mail KHStours@ky.gov.

Preparing Students
Preparing your students for their visit to the KHS history campus will greatly enhance the experience. Resources to help you are available on the Teachers page.

We encourage you to use these materials to introduce concepts, vocabulary and historical or other background information to your class prior to visiting the KHS history campus.

School Bus Drop-Off and Parking
Buses may drop school groups off at the bus ramp on Broadway or on Ann Street. Bus parking is located at the end of Broadway at Riverview Park. View a map here.

Other parking is available in the parking lot on the corner of Broadway and Ann Street across from the Center for Kentucky History.

Late Arrivals
Please be prompt. Classes that arrive late may receive a condensed tour due to scheduling limitations. Classes arriving more than a half-hour late may not be able to receive a guided gallery visit.

Lunch
There are a limited number of bag lunch facilities available in the museum. There is a public garden behind the Center for Kentucky History. Please check with the tour coordinator for availability.

Museum Guidelines
We encourage you to share examples of good museum behavior with your class before your visit. The most important rule is to not touch the artifacts or glass cases; the touch of a finger can damage artifacts and leave dirt and oil behind. Discuss appropriate indoor voice levels and behavior with your class. Please be respectful if a KHS staff member asks you or your students to move back from an artifact. Food, drinks and gum are not permitted in the galleries.

Photography
Photography is allowed in the KHS galleries as long as images are taken using existing light only (no flash) and are for personal, noncommercial use. We request that teachers and students refrain from taking photographs during guided visits.