School Field Trips
We’ve got it all right here for students of any age! Third grade classes and above can request a docent led tour at least two weeks prior to your planned visit. For younger students, tours are self-guided with teachers or adults along to chaperone. Students will get just the right mix of learning and fun … all in our scenic and safe experience areas.
Teachers can utilize the LSU Rural Life Museum to enhance social studies, cultural arts, math and science classes. The museum has a 19th century Plantation area, a Folk Architecture section, an Exhibit Barn, 32 historic buildings and thousands of artifacts representing the rural way of life.
Field Trip Information
Grade Level: Grades pre-K–2, Self-Guided Tours or Grades 3–12, Docent-Led Tours
When: the Rural Life Museum is open daily, closed New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Times: Earliest tour time is 8:00am when museum opens, and latest tour time is 4:00pm to allow for an hour long tour before museum closes at 5:00pm.
Length: 1 hour recommended for young students on self-guided tour; 1 hour recommended for formal docent-led tour; plan to stay an additional hour for older students to explore.
Cost: $8.00 per person (students, teachers and chaperones) with 1 adult for every 10 students admitted at no charge.
Reservations (Required for all school groups)
To schedule a field trip, contact the museum at (225)765-2437 or email rlm@lsu.edu with "field trip" in the subject line. Provide the following information when you call or email:
- Name of School
- Number of Students
- Grade Level of Students
- Name of Contact Person
- School Address
- School phone number and an alternate phone number
- E-mail address
- Number of Adults (teachers and chaperones)
Payments, W-9 Requests, and Cancellations
Payment is due upon arrival on the date of the tour. Pre-payment may be allowed in some cases. We can accept cash, credit card or a business check from the school. All checks must be made payable to the LSU Rural Life Museum.
If your school needs a w-9 in order to issue a check, submit a w-9 request at least two weeks prior to the date of your tour. To submit a w-9 request, email rlm@lsu.edu with "w-9 request" in the subject line.
If a tour needs to be cancelled, please contact the museum as soon as possible. For last minute cancellations, please contact the museum at least a week before the scheduled tour. If a refund is necessary, please allow 4-6 weeks for a refund check to be issued.
Chaperones
One adult leader must accompany each group of 10 students. Teachers and parent chaperones are responsible for students’ behavior and must accompany students at all times. If the school does not collect payment from parent chaperones prior to the tour date, then parent chaperones can pay separately upon arrival on the day of the tour. However, a credit card is the only form of payment the museum will accept from parent chaperones on the day of the tour.
Food and Drink
Food and all drinks, except water, are not allowed on the museum's grounds. Students, teachers, and chaperones are allowed to carry a bottle of water on their tour.
Museum Gift Shop
Teachers—discover history books, educational items and historic games perfect for classroom use. And students will love the toys, games and other souvenirs.
Accessibility
The LSU Rural Life Museum strives to provide an educational and fun museum experience for all guests. Please notify Guest Services if your group has anyone with special needs.