Some guidelines to make your visit more pleasant

We ask that parents supervise their children to ensure their safety and the safety of the Museum’s collection. We aim to be a “barrier-free” facility: almost none of our collection is in cases or separated from the visitor by a railing or rope. We ask parents please to see that their children not touch or handle any objects in the collection, unless specifically instructed to do so by a Museum guide. On special events days when fires are burning, please stay well back from the fires and the anvil of the blacksmith’s shop. Please let the guides from the Museum feed the fires themselves. Please feel free to enjoy the grounds of the Museum any time for a picnic or a stroll. Please walk, and ask your children to do the same, especially when the Museum is crowded.

Please just look at the animals, and keep fingers and toes well back. Most animals are friendly if you are respectful, but it is good to be cautious. Please note that the horse pasture fence is electrified. “Bee” aware of the busy pollinators in the orchards and gardens! Without them, we will have no fruit. But, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened. If you see a bee or a wasp nearby, calmly walk away with your hands down. In most cases, the insect won’t follow you far -- she has better things to do.

A lost-and-found area is located in the Visitor’s Center.

Notes for Teachers and Chaperones

Because this is a museum, PLEASE do not let the students touch objects on display unless museum personnel are there and give permission. Some items are very delicate and fragile.

Keep your children in their assigned groups. Each group must stay with its adult supervisor at the general ratio of 8 children to 1 adult.

Please police your lunch area for trash when you are through. PUT ALUMINUM CANS IN BARRELS MARKED FOR RECYCLING. Please do not put trash in those barrels.

Most activities during a special program tour (options A, B, C) or during Frolick will be continuous. A few are scheduled: the house tours, the wagon rides, and the clothing & frontier life demonstrations at Frolick. It will be up to the group supervisors to see that the students participate in as many activities as possible.

At Frolic, bagged or boxed lunches are to be kept on the "back back" porch of the Visitor’s Center: that is, the large porch closest to the lane, not the porch next to the door from the gift shop. Lunch may be eaten at any time, although we suggest that you eat from either 11:30 – 12:00 or 12:00 – 12:30, whichever of those time slots your group is not scheduled for the clothing demonstration, so long as it does not conflict with your group’s wagon ride time. This is less complicated than it seems when you read it. Clothing demonstration, house tour, and wagon ride time assignments will be given upon arrival. We have also suggested times for lunch on the schedules.