Field Trips
Experience interdisciplinary Texas.
Explore history, science, language arts, ESL, the arts, and many other stories of Texas through the Bullock Museum's field trip program.
Plan Your Field Trip
Come explore three floors of amazing artifacts and two fantastic theaters that tell the many stories of Texas. Bring your students on a learning expedition to the Museum to spark curiosity, analyze artifacts, and enhance classroom learning.
See Texas from all angles as you explore our core Texas History Galleries, dive into interesting stories in our special exhibition galleries, and make connections to science, art, and culture through one of our many films. Students of all ages and in all subject areas can engage with history, art, STEAM, and language arts during a visit to the Bullock Museum. Museum Educators are ready to help you plan your ultimate field trip experience.
Can't make it to the Museum? Bring the Museum to you through our curriculum resources.
Book a Visit
Reservations for the 2024–2025 school year are open.
Please direct any questions to Reservations@TheStoryofTexas.com or call the Teacher Hotline at (512) 463-6712.
Experience Films
Don't just see films—experience them.
Sit in the huge IMAX® Theatre in front of a screen the size of Texas and become part of stunning giant-screen documentaries about distant countries, space, oceans, animals, and many other amazing places and events to make your visit truly interdisciplinary. Check out the Educator Guides for the films to use in your classroom.
In the multisensory special effects Texas Spirit Theater, watch as Texas history steps out on stage in The Star of Destiny, an epic saga about Texas's past, present, and future. Or, experience the story of La Belle as seen through the eyes of a young colonist in Shipwrecked. Check the film schedule for dates and showtimes.
Make a Reservation
Reservations for the 2024–2025 school year are open. Consider planning a trip to the Museum in the fall, as schedules fill quickly in the spring.
Field Trip arrival time slots are offered on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We suggest a 3-hour visitation window to experience all the Museum has to offer. Our Education team can help you plan the most effective use of your time based on your goals.
We suggest a ratio of 1 chaperone to 10 students. To ensure that your group's chaperones will be able to participate in all of the field trip activities, please include their numbers when making your reservation.
Please note: There is no parking available at the Museum for buses, RVs, and other large vehicles. Buses will need to leave the Capitol Complex after drop-off. Your bus driver must stay with the vehicle at all times and will not be able to serve as a chaperone or lead field trip contact during the Museum field trip. For information about where to load or unload visitors traveling to the Bullock Museum via bus and motor coach, see this map or call (512) 463-6712.
Adult groups should make their reservations by visiting our Group Visits page.
To make a reservation, please have the following information handy:
- School/organization name, contact information, district, and grade level
- Lead field trip contact's name, phone number, and email address
- Preferred and alternate dates and arrival times for visit
- Estimated number of students/youth, teachers, and chaperones (we suggest one adult per 10 students/youth)
- Any accommodations you or your students may need
Field Trip Rates
- There must be at least 10 students or youths in your group
- Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance
| School Field Trip Rate Public schools, private schools, charter schools, and homeschool organizations |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibitions - 3 floors 30 mins/floor |
IMAX Theatre 45 mins |
Texas Spirit Theater 15–30 mins |
|
| Student | FREE | $6 | $4 |
| Teacher | FREE | $7 | $5 |
| Chaperone | $14 | $9 | $6 |
| Youth Field Trip Rate Daycares, educational organizations, camps |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibitions - 3 floors 30 mins/floor |
IMAX Theatre 45 mins |
Texas Spirit Theater 15–30 mins |
|
| Under 18 Youth | $5 | $6 | $4 |
| Over 18 Adult | $14 | $9 | $6 |
Visiting the Bullock Texas State History Museum is always my 1st graders' favorite field trip! The whole museum is interactive and fun for all ages. Texas teacher
Field Trip FAQs
Watch this video to learn how to have a successful field trip at the Bullock Museum. When planning your trip, we suggest dedicating three hours so you will have plenty of time to see the exhibits, eat lunch, and even watch one of our amazing films in the IMAX Theatre or Texas Spirit Theater. On average students spend about 30 minutes on each floor, and our films range from 20–45 minutes.
Come for an Educator Preview Visit to try out your lesson plans, scope out the exhibits, and check out the film options before your trip. To receive waived exhibition admission and tickets to Texas Spirit Theater shows and IMAX documentaries, current K-12 educators who live in Texas can show their school ID badge at the Ticketing Counter and ask for an Educator Preview Visit.
We recommend having one chaperone for every 10 students to ensure a safe and enriching experience. Chaperones can either be parents or individuals selected by the school. Chaperone exhibit tickets are priced at $14 each. Schools have the option to cover the cost of chaperone tickets or allow chaperones to pay for their own tickets.
Chaperones, whether they are parents or school-appointed individuals, must adhere to the same guidelines and responsibilities, including facilitating the students' educational experience and correcting behavior during the visit.
We have two bus zones and staff ready to help you as soon as you arrive. Please see our bus loading zone map for directions to the Museum. Please note there is no bus parking near the Museum; the nearest bus parking is located between 12th and 14th St on Trinity St, but this parking is very limited. The bus driver should be prepared to leave the Capitol Complex after dropping off.
When planning your trip it is important to note your bus driver must stay with the vehicle at all times and will not be able to serve as the lead field trip contact or a chaperone during the Museum field trip. Contact us at Reservations@TheStoryofTexas.com if you have questions or need more information.
You can order from our very own Star Cafe ahead of time, or bring your lunch with you. When you are ready to eat, head outside to one of our various lunch time locations and enjoy your food picnic style. New for the 2024–2025 school season, the Bullock Museum now offers lunch storage for group visits! In an effort to make trips to the Museum even easier, we now have shelves and totes available to hold lunches, water bottles, and coolers. Storage is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Check out our curated, self-guided student activity guides that can help your students connect to the artifacts during the visit. We have activities that are appropriate for students of varying ages and interests.
Enhance your field trip by connecting to the Museum in advance. Explore our on-demand classroom resources and curriculum tools that provide supplemental information for you and your students. Sign up for a Distance Learning class with one of our Museum Educators. These virtual lessons deliver high-quality, TEKS-aligned content that engages your students with history, language arts and social studies topics.
The Story of Texas Film Scholarship is available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying groups demonstrating need. Our scholarship coordinator will assist with the application process after you complete the field trip reservation form and indicate interest in the scholarship. Scholarships are currently available for Texas Spirit Theater films and IMAX documentary films.
Additional regional scholarships are available for the following counties/districts: Brooks, Kenedy, Maverick, Zavala, Mason, San Saba, Midland ISD, and Llano.
Consider planning your field trip during one of the Bullock Museum’s engaging student programs:
American Indian Heritage Day
This annual event celebrating the indigenous cultures of Texas is held on the last Friday in September. This special day features hands-on activities and dancing and drumming performances at the Museum, as well as on-demand digital resources that you can use to celebrate virtually at home or at school.
Save the date! September 27, 2024
STEAM Lab
Select Thursdays
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Explore how scientific discoveries have influenced history. On select Thursdays each month, see our educators and STEAM experts from Central Texas Discover Engineering demonstrate the workings of nature and participate in hands-on activities and experiments.
2024–2025 dates: July 11, August 8, October 17, November 14, December 5, January 9, February 6, March 20, April 10, May 8
Homeschool Days
Four times a year, Homeschool families can take part in free days reserved just for them, full of hands-on learning activities, special programs, and discounted rates for IMAX Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater films.
2024–2025 dates: October 11, December 6, January 24, March 28
Our Texas History Galleries tell the chronological story of Texas, but the artifacts we use to tell this story are always changing. If your class is learning about a specific topic and you're curious if the Bullock Museum has related materials, feel free to contact a Museum Educator at Education@TheStoryofTexas.com. Our team is here to assist with any inquiries. Additionally, explore our curated online artifact gallery to see a selection of artifacts currently on view in the Museum.
The Bullock Museum reserves the right to ask an individual to leave the premises if their behavior is deemed inappropriate, disruptive, or at risk of causing harm to the Museum premises, artifacts, other guests, or staff. Disruptive behavior by visitor(s) may also cause their group to be asked to leave. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that everyone has an enjoyable visit.
School Field Trips presented by The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.
School Programs are generously funded by Featured sponsor The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation, Supporting sponsor The Lange Family Foundation, and Contributing sponsors Bella and Chase Cooley, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, The Honorable Kent R. Hance, and Roger and Marianne Staubach.
The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.