Interactive Tours

Grand Tour- 2 hours in length.  Docent-led through all exhibits in the museum. This includes Flowing Through Time, On Solid Ground, The Pan Motor Company, as well as 3 rotating exhibits.

Focused Tour- 1hr. 15 minutes in length.  Docent-led through the 4 permanent exhibits in the Museum, which includes Flowing Through Time, On Solid Ground, The Pan Motor Company, and Alice Wheelock Whitney.

Gallery Pals (Pre-school- K)  ($1 admission to cover costs of materials)  1 hour introduction to the concepts of a museum, history, and exhibits.  Each program involves an interactive story and a special look at one of the exhibits, with an activity to follow.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS

 Self Guided Tour - Go at your own pace with the teacher as a guide.

Scavenger Hunt - Students search for treasures of history.  This hunt introduces student to museum exhibits and how photographs and artifacts tell stories.  The Museum provides worksheets, pencils and clipboards for each student.

Add-On Option - 1 Hour in Length

Nature Tour  All grades.  This tour will encompass the grounds that surround the Stearns History Museum and discuss the types of plants and animals that live there.  Weather permitting.

Speakers Grades 9-12.  Come to the Museum for presentations made by some of Central Minnesota's colorful characters.  Learn more about Samuel Pondolfo (entrepreneur who developed the Pan Car), Captain Augustus Young (Mississippi River boat captain that helped to develop the area), Alice Wheelock Whitney (philanthropist responsible for many amenities in St Cloud), Father Pierz  (Benedictine monk who settled this area), and many others.

Add-On Options: 30 minutes each in length

So Little Room so Much to Take K-3, Intended Audience Grade 2, Academic Historical Thinking Skills 2.4.1.2.1

It didn’t matter which contry immigrants came from in the 1850s- the problem was universal; what to take to America.  Students will use critical and creative thinking skills to problem solve what the Streitz family with their five children should bring with them on their journey to Minnesota to set up their new home.  Map skills, artifacts, the immigration process, and decision making skills will be included in this program.

History Mystery    Grades 4-8 Intended Audience.  Grade 3 Academic Historical Thinking Skills 3.4.1.2.1  A site in central Minnesota is being excavated for a mall.  The site used to be Main Street of Heritage, MN, a small town in the early 1800’s.  The students will look at artifacts and determine all sorts of information about the people who lived in that community.

Letters from Minnesota’s Families  Grade 4 - 12 intended Audience. Preserve your personal and family history.  This activity provides opportunities for students to retain memories or stories from their life.  The participant writes a brief letter to a family member or friend on acid-free paper that conserves the letters as an important resource for future generations.  It is an easy way to keep and share history.

Storytellers  All Ages intended Audience.  Storytelling is a very exciting and interactive way in which to learn about something.  Our storytellers have coyote tales, tall tales, historical tales, and many other tales to captivate your attention.

Scheduling

Call (320-253-8424) or toll free 866-253-8424  email: dpack@stearns-musuem.org

Student admission is $2.  Program is included in admission fee.

Chaperones are admitted free.  Needed 1 per 10 students.  Bus drivers are admitted free.  Additional adults $5.

Tours may be scheduled Monday-Friday  8:30-2:30.

Stearns History Museum and Research Center is located in Heritage Park, a 100 acre nature park in west St. Cloud at 235 South 33rd Ave.  On-site bus parking.  Park is ideal for picnics.

A stop at the Museum Store can be added to your visit or gift bags are available for $1 per student.  Please call ahead to reserve your bags.

Now Showing

Students may view a film or documentary

·       Granite Country USA tells the history of the granite industry and gives students a look at granite use today.

·       If A Road Runs Through It is a documentary that looks at conservation and urban sprawl in the Avon Hills community.

·       Pan's Song is a documentary about the life of Sam Pandolfo and his dream of making the Pan Automobile.

Characters in a Classromm

(Grades K-6)   Looking for an alternative to a field trip?  Costumed interpreters playing characters from history will bring a lesson to your classroom along with an activity that will supplement the lesson.  Enjoy an engaging and interactive lesson with activities and props.  Recommended for class sizes 20-40 students.

Rates:  $130 for a single presentation: $90 for a second presentation and $50 for a third presentation at the same location and same day.  Call the Stearns History Museum for a list of characters that would be available for your date, or email dpack@stearns-museum.org.

Research Center

Stimulate your students' thirst for knowledge in our Research Library with more then 500,000 photographs, 1,000 precious documents, maps, newspapers and more. Students can visit with an archivist to learn how to do research projects, including those for the National History Day competition. Students may purchase research passes for $5. Passes allow students to visit the Museum's Library at any time during the school year. When making your reservation ask about adding the Research Library to your visit.

Museum Store

235 South 33rd Avenue, St. Cloud, MN 56301 • (320) 253-8424 • info@stearns-museum.org