Bring a Youth Group
Bring your class, club, or family for an enjoyable day at the Oberlin Heritage Center! Spend time touring historic buildings, investigating mysterious old objects, and trying historic lessons and games at the Little Red Schoolhouse. Learn about history by seeing, hearing, doing – not just reading and listening. Past visitors have included Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, clubs, day care centers, home schools, family reunions, and after-school organizations.A note to educators: Our tours meet state and national academic content standards within Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts subjects. A sampling of these standards includes geography, government, citizenship rights, science and technology, and communication. Students learn individual and community history, and make connections to national history themes that can otherwise seem impersonal and far removed from their daily lives. This helps make history feel more personal, relevant and fun.
Within reason, the Heritage Center staff is willing to tailor the tour length, content, and route to meet the needs of educators and their students. Tours are recommended for children aged seven and older but can be altered to meet the interests of younger children if enough planning time is allowed. Groups with very young children are encouraged to try the "Lessons in the Past" and "Saturdays at the Schoolhouse" programs, or contact us to create a personalized tour.
Educators may wish to apply for a field trip grant offered by Target. Grant information
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a tour, please call Liz Schultz, the Museum Education and Tour Coordinator, at (440) 774-1700 or email tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
Tour Times
- Schedule your group tour between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Please make your reservation at least one month in advance to guarantee the date and time you prefer. Some history walks may also be available on Sundays.
Tour Fees
- $3 per child (under 18 years old)
- Adult chaperones are free
- A non-refundable deposit of $50 (or full payment if your total tour fees are less than $50) is required to secure your reservation.
See the Group Tour Information pdf for details about reserving a tour, accessibility, and cancellation policies.
Tour Options:
Lessons in the Past
Attention teachers, home-school associations, scout leaders, youth ministers, and other youth leaders! Looking for a fun and educational activity for kids? Lessons in the Past is a new hour-and-a-half program available for youth and school groups, ages 7 and above. Experience what a school day may have been like in the early 1800s. Visitors will be welcomed to the Heritage Center's pioneer-era one-room schoolhouse by a costumed interpreter and immersed in historic school lessons including reading, penmanship, arithmetic, and more. The program lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes lessons and stories in the Schoolhouse and old-fashioned games in the schoolyard. Reservations are required; minimum group size is 10; maximum 25. Lessons can be tailored to meet specific standards, and additional tour options are available by pre-arrangement. The fee for this program is $3 per student.
Tour the Oberlin Heritage Center
Visit three historic buildings at the Oberlin Heritage Center: the Monroe House (1866), the Little Red Schoolhouse (1836) and the Jewett House (1884). Learn about the founding of Oberlin, African American history, the Underground Railroad, women's history, scientific discovery, and turn-of-the-century reform movements. See how people kept their houses warm, washed clothes, cooked meals, and spent time in the evenings. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes and can be modified to focus more attention on one building or subject, or abbreviated to accommodate a different schedule depending on the interests of your group. Special requests must be arranged well in advance of your tour date. Although all visitors are welcome, this tour will be of most interest to children above the age of 7 years.
We are ready to work with you to make the tour fit your needs and interests! Ask us about tailoring your tour to address certain interests, academic content standards, or badge requirements. You also have the option of requesting a walking tour element, either in place of visiting one of our buildings, or in addition to the "standard" tour. For example, a group may wish to visit the Monroe House and Little Red Schoolhouse, and then, instead of visiting the 1884 Jewett House, request a short walking tour to nearby Underground Railroad-related sites.
Tappan Square History Walk
Learn about the earliest residents of Oberlin and hear fascinating stories of the triumphs, debates, and scandals linked to the landmarks around Tappan Square. Compare the buildings of today to the buildings of yesteryear using historic photographs and walk away with a lively appreciation of Oberlin's unique heritage. This hour long guided history walk is available for group reservations from April through October. History walks are recommended for those aged 9 and above but can be modified to meet younger visitor’s interests with advanced preparation. The tour can be modified to focus on particular buildings or monuments, but this must be arranged in advance. Whether you've lived in Oberlin forever or are new to the area, you'll find much to enjoy. Freedom’s Friends: Underground Railroad and Abolitionist History Walk
“Oberlin is perhaps the most important station along the whole line of the Underground Railway. It has rendered the most important services to Freedom. It is second only to Canada as an asylum for the hunted fugitive.” Hear stories about Oberlin’s most famous freedom seekers and people known to have helped them make their way to freedom. This new hour and fifteen minute guided history walk is available for group reservations from April through October. History walks are recommended for those aged 9 and above but can be modified to meet younger visitor’s interests with advanced preparation.
Downtown Oberlin Historic District History Walk
Explore the history and architecture of Oberlin’s downtown National Register Historic District. Compare old storefront photographs to shops today and learn about Oberlin’s early residents and the formation of our unique downtown. This tour can be linked to history, preservation, and architectural lessons in the classroom. This tour is available by group reservation from April through October. History walks are recommended for those aged 14 and above but can be modified to meet younger visitor’s interests with advanced preparation.
Saturdays at the Schoolhouse
Join us for a variety of programs at the Little Red Schoolhouse this summer, including Hands-On-History activities and Story Times. The schoolhouse is also open for guests to try historic school lessons and play games together during certain special events. Be sure to check our Event Calendar for more information.
I Spy Oberlin: History and Architecture Scavenger Hunt
This fun program is designed for children age 5-11 with an adult companion. Families will be guided through historic Oberlin while keeping their eyes peeled for historic markers, decorative details, and Oberlin oddities. Fun and engaging for all! The "hunt" begins at the Monroe House and traverses outside in fair weather; we will "spy" inside our historic buildings if it's raining. The fee for this program is $5 per child. Reservations are required for this program, so please check our Event Calendar or call to reserve a group program.
Step-On Guides for Bus Tours
Request a step-on guide to provide the historic narrative to a driving tour of Oberlin. Please note that we cannot provide a bus or motorcoach – we can only provide the guide who will "step-on" to your bus or motorcoach. Pricing and availability for this specialty tour varies, so please contact our tour coordinator with questions and requests.
If you have questions, need additional information, or would like to schedule a tour please contact Liz Schultz, the Museum Education and Tour Coordinator, by email or by calling 440-774-1700.
