Plan a Field Trip

To sign up for a field trip, provide your preferred dates and times in the online form. Scout troops, universities, and adult groups should instead fill out the Group Tours form.

• Advance reservations are required. Please contact the Education department at least two weeks prior to your preferred visit date.
• Guided tours are available on weekdays that the Museum and Memorial is open – on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guided tours are not available on Saturdays and Sundays, but school groups are more than welcome to schedule a self-guided visit on these days.
• For discounted rates, school groups must consist of at least seven students.
• School visits are limited to 200 students. Larger groups may schedule multi-day visits.
• Visits may not be booked on a school’s final week in session.
• Due to a high volume of tours, time at the Museum and Memorial is limited. Groups of 150 and fewer will typically have a two-hour experience. Verify your arrival and departure times with our staff before your visit.

Museum Only: Access to the Main Gallery, Featured Exhibition(s) and the Lower Level. Tours can be self-guided or with a Museum guide (subject to availability.)

See the online sign-up form for current pricing.

Provide your preferred date and time in our online form.

School groups planning to visit the Museum and Memorial must have a confirmed appointment. Confirmation from a Museum and Memorial Education staff member, not the submission of a reservation form, guarantees a tour time.

Museum and Memorial school visits book quickly; be sure to schedule early for your first choice of time and date.

The Museum and Memorial will make an effort to accommodate requests for guided visits, but because the Museum and Memorial relies on volunteers, it is not always possible. Teachers are encouraged to be prepared to lead students through the Museum and Memorial. Guided visits are available Tuesdays-Fridays.

Volunteers provide their time and expertise to help facilitate a visit that meets your group’s needs. The more information you have on the day of your visit, the better.

• What time do you need to leave?
• Would you prefer the Museum and Memorial provide more time for independent exploration or more facilitator highlights?
• Where are your students in the course of their study? Must they complete an assignment by the end of their visit?

Yes. We welcome school groups doing self-guided tours of the Museum and Memorial, but in order to receive the student group discount rate, at least one week prior notification of the visit is needed. Fill out our online form or contact us at education@theworldwar.org.

All guests should follow Museum and Memorial procedures and all groups should be mindful of other guests and tours. If a group has more than 30 members, you should divide into separate groups starting in various locations in order to prevent congestion in any one section of the Museum and Memorial.

The typical school visit last two hours. This time frame requires an efficient pace in order to see all areas of the Museum and Memorial. If you would like a longer visit, please ask.

The Museum and Memorial can accommodate groups up to approximately 200 students at one time. Inquire with us about accommodations for larger groups. We ask that any student group contain at least seven members in order to qualify for the student group discount. Though we would like to provide facilitators for all guests, please understand the priority will go to the larger groups.

Yes, all galleries of the National WWI Museum and Memorial are accessible to people with mobility limitations. Please note the Liberty Memorial Tower, a historic landmark, is not wheelchair accessible. Special activities and guides are available for visually and hearing impaired guests with advance notice. If your school group has guests with special needs, please let us know ahead of time.

Sack lunches are available from the Museum-operated Over There Café for student groups at $7 each and usually include a sandwich, chips, a cookie, and a bottle of water. Due to limited seating, sack lunches cannot be eaten in the Café. Lunches must be eaten either outside on the grounds or on your school bus.

Group orders must be placed at least seven business days prior your visit. As Museum and Memorial ticketing and the Over There Café are separate, payment for café lunches will be paid for separately. If paying by check, café orders require a separate check made out to American Dining Creations. If you must cancel, please notify us two days prior to your scheduled lunch or you will be required to pay for the order.

Students should not individually purchase food or drinks from the Café. Students are not permitted to visit the Café without an adult chaperone.

Lunches must be eaten either outside on the grounds or on your school bus.

2025 Updated payment procedures:

Your group will need to either bring or have access to your school's payment information, as the invoice and payment portal will be sent to you via email once you arrive on the day of your visit. (You will need access to your emails to complete the payment.)

We do not accept cash, and your entire group must pay in one transaction to qualify for the discounted field trip rate. (Physical credit cards will be accepted.)

We do not accept prepayment or process any payment until the day of your visit, as attendance numbers in your group may change.

You will receive a receipt by email following your field trip for your school's records.

Please reach out if you have any questions about this process or if your school wishes to use a check.

Yes, grant funding is available thanks to the generous donations of our funders. Qualifying schools receive free admission, sack lunches, and a stipend to assist with student transportation or substitute teacher costs.

Grant Assistance information

Special trunks of WWI era artifacts may be borrowed from the Museum and Memorial for six-week periods of time. A $150 refundable deposit is required. Contact the Education Department for more information.

Yes! Check out our Classroom Materials page to learn more about our educational resources, including primary sources, information, articles and lesson plans.

Buses should unload and load students/chaperones at the north end of the U-shaped drive on the Memorial Mall and may park along the south end of the Mall or on Kessler Road. Please do not block the north entrance; other guests are unable to pass buses.

Please plan to arrive as close to your tour time as possible. Guide availability is contingent upon a daily assigned schedule and it is not always possible to accommodate early or late groups.

Upon arrival, students will be directed to congregate with a Museum Facilitator in an area appropriate for their numbers. Only the group leader should go to the Ticketing Counter with the accurate number of students and adults in the group.

If paying upon arrival, wristbands will be received at that time. If pre-paid, the group leader will need to give the attendant the confirmation ticket and all unused wristbands. If necessary, a refund check will be issued and mailed to your school.

In many cases of inclement weather, there is a possibility the Tower may close. Far less frequently, the Museum and Memorial itself may close or have a late opening. If there is concern of winter weather closing, please check our website or call 816.888.8100. If your district cancels due to inclement weather, please contact us at education@theworldwar.org.