Guided Field Trips
Guided field trips are interactive gallery experiences led by museum educators who engage students through open-ended discussions and learner-centered activities.
Inspired by our exhibitions, these field trips are designed to enrich and extend classroom learning while building empathy and critical thinking skills. Teachers can choose from a variety of guided tour options, each designed to highlight an array of stories and exhibits within the museum.
Thanks to the Kamin “Free for Kids” Initiative, guided field trips are free for all K-12 students and schools.
Guided Field Trip Information
All field trips are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and must be booked at least one month in advance. Museum staff will send a confirmation email once your booking is secured.
- Availability: Tuesday through Friday, year-round
- Grade levels: Adaptable for grades 3–12
- Duration: 60–90 minutes
- Maximum group size: 125 students (1:10 minimum chaperone-to-student ratio is required.)
- Cost: Free, generously supported by Daniel G. Kamin and Carole L. Kamin
Guided Options for School Groups
The Beyond Adversity field trip invites students to connect with powerful local stories of resilience, innovation, and perseverance within the African American community in Western Pennsylvania. Covering 250 years of history, students will learn about the African American experience through Pittsburgh’s role in the abolition movement, the Underground Railroad, the city’s groundbreaking jazz scene, and sports teams, including the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords.
Learning Objectives:
- To inspire students by showcasing stories of African American resilience and perseverance from local history.
- To foster an appreciation for the importance of adaptability and innovation in overcoming challenges.
- To encourage critical thinking and reflection on the lessons of history and their relevance to contemporary issues.
- To provide an interactive learning experience that complements classroom education.
Exhibits explored include: From Slavery to Freedom, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, Special Collections, and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum.
The Legacies of Innovation field trip invites school groups to explore Pittsburgh’s rich history of innovation, creativity, and invention. Students will learn about influential Pittsburghers like George Westinghouse, Rachel Carson, and H.J. Heinz who influenced fields like science, journalism, and civil rights, and discover how local innovators have shaped the world we live in today.
Learning Objectives:
- To inspire students by showcasing the legacies of innovation and the impact of inventors and entrepreneurs.
- To foster an appreciation for the importance of creativity, problem-solving, and STEM fields in driving innovation.
- To encourage critical thinking and reflection on the role of innovation in shaping society and the future.
- To offer an engaging learning experience that supplements traditional classroom instruction with regional examples.
Exhibits explored may include Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, Glass: Shattering Notions, From Slavery to Freedom, and Heinz.
The Many Faces, One City field trip provides a comprehensive look at the history of Pittsburgh, with a focus on its diverse population and the impact of immigration on the city’s growth and identity. Showcasing the contributions of various ethnic and cultural groups past and present, students will be asked to reflect on the objects they see and consider the broader implications of our region’s history and contributions in the context of American history and society.
Learning Objectives:
- To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Pittsburgh’s historical development, from its geographical significance and becoming a frontier fort, through its transformation into an industrial powerhouse, leading to its current status as a modern city.
- To encourage cultural awareness and appreciation by highlighting the contributions of various ethnic and cultural groups to Western Pennsylvania’s history.
- To foster empathy by encouraging students to consider the triumphs and challenges of individuals and communities throughout Pittsburgh’s history.
- To inspire historical inquiry and connect historical events and themes to contemporary issues, allowing students to examine the relevance of history in today’s world.
Exhibits explored include From Slavery to Freedom, Special Collections, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, and Clash of Empires.
The Pittsburgh’s Pastimes field trip offers a holistic perspective of how sports and leisure activities play an important role in shaping Pittsburgh’s history, culture, and sense of community. Students will learn how Pittsburgh athletes broke barriers and paved the way for greater equality in sports and safety equipment, as well as how local entertainers contributed to making Pittsburgh a leading jazz city. Discover how sports and leisure activities in Western Pennsylvania mirrored and influenced broader societal changes, including issues related to race, gender, and social justice.
Learning Objectives:
- To explore the cultural significance of sports and leisure activities in Pittsburgh, including how they shaped the city’s identity and fostered a sense of community among residents.
- To provide students with the historical context about how sports and leisure activities evolved in Pittsburgh over time.
- To highlight the stories and contributions of famous Pittsburgh athletes, entertainers, performers and musicians.
- To encourage critical thinking and analysis by asking participants to consider the economic, social, and political factors that have influenced the development of Pittsburgh’s sports and cultural scenes.
Exhibits explored include the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, and Special Collections
The History Highlights field trip provides students with a condensed yet engaging overview of Western Pennsylvania’s rich and varied past. Through artifacts, stories, and influential figures, this tour introduces students to the History Center while touching on key moments in Pittsburgh’s history including its major industries, waves of immigration, groundbreaking innovations, cultural milestones, and celebrated sports legacy. This field trip offers a broad understanding of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the region.
Learning Objectives:
- To introduce Pittsburgh’s early history, including its founding as a frontier fort and its role in the French and Indian War.
- To discuss Western Pennsylvania’s role in the Industrial Revolution, highlighting its industries like glass, coal, steel, and tech.
- To explore artifacts representing the experiences of different immigrant groups and their contributions to the city
- To discuss inventors and innovators from the region and their contributions to medicine, education, sports, music and the arts.
Exhibits explored include: Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation, From Slavery to Freedom, Special Collections, and Clash of Empires.