Classroom & Group Visits

The Oregon Historical Society is happy to offer tours of the Oregon History Museum! Tours are available to the general public, adult groups, and school groups with advance notice. All tours last approximately one hour and are included with admission. A minimum group size of 10 visitors is required for a docent-led tour.

Your group is also welcome to self-tour the museum with advance notice.

The Oregon History Museum has limited gallery capacity. Our staff reserves the right to limit access when demand becomes too high for reasonable safety or visitor comfort. We highly recommend scheduling all group visits in advance.

If you have any questions regarding school tours at the Oregon Historical Society, please call 503.222.1741.

Oregon My Oregon Tours

Oregon My Oregon interprets Oregon’s histories through visual guides, artwork, artifacts, photographs, audio/visual presentations, and hands-on displays for children. The exhibit leads you chronologically through the history of the first inhabitants to current day and explores the diversity of the landscape and the people that have occupied the region.

Select one of the following tours or we will customize a tour based on your requests.  Tours of the Oregon Historical Society’s Research Library can be combined with exhibit tours.

Student Tours 

• Hear It, See It, Do It

  Pre-School – Kindergarten

  Accommodates up to 20 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 45 minutes

  Students will hear a story related to current museum exhibits.  Then, they will see exhibit items relating to the story.  Finally, students will create a craft connected to the story and exhibit.  Teachers may select a tour theme i.e. Transportation, Water, Shoes, Rocks, Native American Heritage, Shapes, or Tools.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History

  
  
• We Have Work to Do!
  Pre-School – Kindergarten Accommodates up to 20 students Duration: 45 minutes
  Learn about tasks that travelers on the Oregon Trail performed and the many different jobs that Oregon’s Indians had and do. You will have the opportunity to look at artifacts, touch objects and listen to a story.
  Curriculum connections: Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography

• Portland, A City Like No Other
• 3rd Grade
• Accommodates one class
• Duration: One hour
• Students will discover the history of Portland through investigating objects such as the Portland Penny, maps and historic photos.
• Curriculum connections: Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History

• Oregon’s First People: Then & Now
  

  3rd Grade

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 1 Hour

  Hear the story of Raven, and learn about the past and present lives of Oregon’s first people.  Additionally, your students can create their own basket design.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography-History-Civics & Government      

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• Explore Oregon My Oregon
  4th Grade
  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.
  Duration: 1 Hour
  Discover the inside of a Native American Cedar Plank House, explore European trade objects on a recreated Hudson’s Bay Company ship, and examine objects representative of those used on the Oregon Trail.
  Curriculum connections: Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography-History-Civics & Government.
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• Primary Sources,The Real Thing
  

  8th Grade – High School

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 1 Hour – Exhibit Tour only 

                1 1/2 Hrs – Including Historic Photo Analysis Activity

  Analyze primary resource documents and objects in the exhibit, Oregon, My Oregon to learn more about Oregon’s past.  Tour includes an opportunity to analyze and use historic photos as primary sources.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History, Civics and Government

• Plus or Minus

  High School

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups

  Duration: 1 hour

  Investigate controversial issues in Oregon history.  Interpret the positive outcomes and the negative outcomes of historical events.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History, Civics and Government

Please inquire about special exhibition tours and programming.

• Call 503-222-1741 for more information

To schedule a tour please contact Nicole Yasuhara, Visitor Services Coordinator, at 503.222.1741, Nicole.Yasuhara@ohs.org, or fill out one of the following forms and fax it to 503.221.2035.  Please schedule your tour at least 2 weeks in advance. 

Pre-K~College School Tour Request Form (PDF)
Adult & Senior Tour Request Form (PDF)

Tour Goals Form (PDF)

Out-of-State School Groups

*Limited funds are available on "a first come first served" basis to assist qualified schools with bus fees. To qualify, schools must have 55% or more students who receive free and reduced lunch. Complete the application form in addition to the K-12 Tour Request Form and return them at least one month prior to requested tour date.  Submit forms to:  Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org

Application for Assistance for Bus Cost (PDF)

Application for Bus Assistance Bracero (PDF)

Non-School Groups - Youths, Adults, Out-of-State College Students, and Seniors

Oregon My Oregon Teacher’s Guide is available on request.  Contact Gloria Rasmussen, 503.306.5251 or Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org.

Teacher pre-visits (one visit per teacher) to the Oregon Historical Society's exhibits are free, when you schedule a school tour.  Please call 503.222.1741 for more information.

Once you have completed your docent-led tour, we recommend that you visit our other self-guided exhibits. Please check our website for information on current exhibits at the Oregon Historical Society.

If you have any questions regarding school tours at the Oregon Historical Society, please call 503.222.1741.

If you are interested in learning about Traveling Trunks and other Education materials and programs at the Oregon Historical Society, please contact Gloria Rasmussen at 503.306.5251 or Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org or visit the Oregon Historical Society's Education Web Page.

Thank you for your interest in the Oregon Historical Society. We look forward to your visit!