Plan a School Visit
To schedule your classroom visit to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, please email: Field Trip
All guided tours and classroom programs must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance.
You may also use the link below to access our School Visit Reservation Form below:
Students, Pre-K through 12th grade, visiting as part of an organized classroom visit are admitted free of charge. We require one adult chaperone for every 5 students (Pre-K – 2nd) and one chaperone for every 10 students (4th – 12th). One teacher per class and the required chaperones are also admitted free of charge.
$11.00 for adults, $9.00 for senior citizens and military service members, $8.00 for college students with ID, $5.00 for youth ages 6-18, and free for children under the age of 5.
Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Sunday from 12:00 – 4:00 pm.
(Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.)
Because the most successful museum visits are those where students and adults are well prepared, we offer you the following guidelines for your Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum class trip.
If at all possible, visit the Museum before bringing your students. Teachers preparing for classroom visits are admitted free of charge.
You can also explore our eight newly renovated permanent exhibit galleries right here on our site.
Prepare your students for the exhibits they will see through pre-visit activities and discussions.
Divide your students into small groups and plan to have one chaperone with each group. By doing this you will be free to move from group to group, checking on progress, answering questions, and assisting with behavioral issues, if necessary.
Make a copy of the Chaperone Guidelines for each of your chaperones. In addition, it is helpful if you provide them with a name tag and information on your specific assignments and instructions prior to your visit.
As you know, museums have a variety of rules designed both for the safe-keeping of artifacts and documents on display, and to ensure a safe, enjoyable visit for all guests. We appreciate your help in seeing that your students follow these basic rules during your visit. Our goal is to do everything possible to see that your students, and our other guests, enjoy their Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum experience.
We require one adult chaperone for every 5 students (Pre-K – 2nd) and one chaperone for every 10 students (4th – 12th). One teacher per class and the required chaperones are admitted free of charge. Each student must be assigned to a small group and be accompanied by a chaperone. Chaperones must remain with their group at all times while at the Museum and on the Museum grounds.
Chaperones are responsible for working with you, the teacher, to keep students organized and focused on their visit. Please give each chaperone specific information about your students' Museum assignments and goals prior to arriving at the Museum.
Chaperones should be encouraged to review the information found under the Chaperones Requirements tab on this page.
From the North: US 131 south to Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the South: US 131 north to Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the East: I-196 west to Ottawa Avenue exit. South on Ottawa to Pearl Street. West on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the West: I-196 east to US 131 south / Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance. (Bear to the right as you exit I-196 and the Pearl Street exit. You won’t actually merge onto US 131.)
Free bus parking is available on Scribner Street, directly to the west of the Museum, and in the Museum’s south parking lot.
When you arrive at the Museum, one person should come in to our Admissions Desk to handle check-in. Please be prepared to give an exact count of students and adults – both teachers and chaperones. At this time you will be asked to pay the admission fee for any adults over the required number of one adult chaperone for every 5 students (Pre-K – 2nd) and one chaperone for every 10 students (4th – 12th). We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards. Please let our admissions staff know if you need a receipt.
The Museum has a gift shop on site. Many items in the Museum Store are priced for children. We ask that only one group of ten students be allowed in the store at a time.
Restrooms, drinking fountains, and the coat room are all conveniently located near the Museum Store. There are additional restrooms and drinking fountains on the second floor across from the Cabinet Room and in the Learning Center.
The Gerald R. Ford Foundation has generously established an endowment to provide transportation funds for area schools to use when bringing students to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum for educational programs and tours.
You must complete and submit a written application for your request to be considered. Applications will be considered in the order they are received.
The Secchia – Allen Student Transportation Fund will pay for transportation expenses for qualifying school visits (excluding bus driver meals).
You must submit a written estimate of the transportation expense on your Application Form in advance.
Use of charter buses must be approved in advance by Gerald R. Ford Foundation staff.
Please email questions to:
Field Trip
Thank you for agreeing to serve as a chaperone for a student visit to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. You will play an important role in the success of the visit, and we appreciate your willingness to work with the teacher to help students have an enjoyable and educational experience.
Chaperones must remain with their students at all times while at the Museum.
Chaperones are responsible for working with the teacher to keep students organized and focused on their visit. We also ask that chaperones help students abide by the Museum’s rules, outlined below. The Museum staff expects teachers and chaperones to maintain control and discipline of their groups at all times. Museum staff and security are available for assistance, if necessary.
As you know, museums have a variety of rules designed both for the safe-keeping of artifacts and documents on display, and to ensure a safe, enjoyable visit for all guests. We appreciate your help in seeing that the students in your group follow these basic rules during your visit. Our goal is to do everything possible to see that your students, and our other guests, enjoy their Museum experience.
The Museum has a gift shop on site. Many items in the Museum Store are priced for children on field trips. We ask that only one group of ten students be allowed in the store at a time.
Restrooms, drinking fountains, and the coat room are all conveniently located near the Museum Store. There are additional restrooms and drinking fountains on the second floor across from the Cabinet Room and in the Learning Center.
