Educational And Children's Programs


School Programming:

Field Trips:

Field trips are available at Smith McDowell House Museum on Thursdays and Fridays. Check out our on-line Curriculum Guide and choose your program topic and call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org and make a reservation. The museum’s programs are adjusted to be age appropriate and to match the NC Standard Course of Study. We can also customize any program by request to meet your students’ needs. Please let us know in advance if you have any special needs. Minimum group size is 12 students. Two full classes coming at the same time will need to choose two programs so that both classes have the optimum education experience in the museum. Teachers, assistants and chaperones are free.
Download our Curriculum guide: www.cushycms.com/temporary_uploads/103902/2009-2010 guide.pdf
If link does not work, try copying the link and pasting it into your web browser.

Traveling Trunks:

Traveling trunks are a great value. Artifacts and a week’s worth of lesson plans – all in one box! The trunk includes theme-appropriate artifacts and a curriculum guide. The cost is only$10 for a week loan. Trunks are to be picked up on Friday or Saturday (10 – 4) and are to be returned by the next Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. There is a $15 per day late fee should trunks be returned late. Advanced reservation is required. Please note that borrowers are responsible for replacement costs of missing or damaged items, so please be cautious. Check out our on-line Curriculum Guide to choose your trunk. Call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org to make your reservation.

Outreach Programs:

Let us bring the museum to you! Call 253-9231 or email education@wnchistory.org for reservations to bring a museum staff person or volunteer to your site. 1 hour, $60.00 for 1 class or group of no more than 50, $25.00 each additional class or group on the same day (plus 4 cents per mile for locations outside of Buncombe County).

• American History Through Music – live music covering the Revolution through today
• First person presentations by Bill Adam (High School only) Call for availability. Mr. Adam presents architect Richard Morris Hunt or the Vanderbilt family
• Any of the Traveling Trunks are available as Outreach program

Living History Day:

Living History Day is held on the 2nd Friday of October and is designed for 4th and 8th grades. Craft & history demonstrations, hands-on activities and tours of the 1840s Smith McDowell House Museum highlight the day. Space is limited, so reservations are required. Cost is $2.50 for each student. Check out the on-line Living History Day information page and registration form for more information or email education@wnchistory.org

History Camp:

Scheduled for the last full week in July. This is a fun, history-oriented week for rising 2nd through 5th graders. Kids will play history detective, make heritage crafts, go on an architectural treasure hunt, play historic games, and get a real hands on feel for history. Camp is 9 am to 5 pm daily. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. For more information, check our on-line History Camp guide and registration form or call 253-9231 or email: education@wnchistory.org.
 

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING

Historic Party Series:

The Smith-McDowell House Museum continues its series of Historic Parties and activities for boys and girls. This series features hands-on programs and activities that bring American history to life. Parties and activities feature various historical or cultural themes in American History. An event is planned for each month except June, July, October, November and December. Tea Parties are designed for the child and adult and include a program, refreshments and a craft. Reservations are required and rates are $25 adult, $20 child. Other history themed activities have their own pricing.
April 10: Traditional Crafts Fair for Children. Admission $5 for children; adults free. The museum’s Tar Heel Junior Historian club will demonstrate various traditional crafts. Children will get hands-on and will take home a homemade craft or two for themselves.

May 8: Civil War Era Tea Party. Children $20, Adult $25. For both boys and girls. Civil War Era Reenactors will present the program and party includes refreshments and craft.

August 14th: Southwest Fiesta. Children $20, Adult $25 Dress code will be casual. The program will center on 1820s life in New Mexico when it was still part of Mexico. Enjoy treats from that era and area and help us break a piñata!

September 11: Program to be announced later.
 

Easter Egg Hunt:

Always held on the day before Palm Sunday, the annual Easter Egg Hunt is a delight for children! Eggs on the historic grounds, prizes and refreshments and perhaps a visit from the Easter Bunny himself! $5 children, adults free. (age 4 and up).

Birthday Parties

Make your child’s birthday a “historic event”! Choose one our themes and you can relax while party-goers enjoy a program and historic craft. Parties are designed for children aged 7 and up and have minimum and maximum participant requirements and include 2 hour use of party room, program, activity and activity materials, use of tablecloths and table settings. You provide cake and refreshments. Parties must be during museum hours of 10:00 – 4:00 Wednesdays through Saturdays. You are also welcome to provide your own program, refreshments and activity at a slightly reduced rate. Check out the Birthday Parties page for details and see the variety of historic themes.