SCHOOL FIELD Trips

We invite educators and students to the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum for a unique learning experience.  Students are welcomed into the restored Victorian home as it looked in 1890.  Tours can be modified based on education levels (elementary/middle/high school/college) and class course objectives. Further, on request, we can draw out additional themes that may dovetail with your curriculum objectives, such as local history, Victorian living, the Civil War (Hemingway’s grandfathers), and WWI.

Topics Discussed

• Oak Park at the turn of the 20th Century

• How we were able to recreate Hemingway’s historical surroundings

• How Hemingway learned to be a storyteller

• Influences Hemingway incorporated into his writing: art, music, nature, and science

• Habits of good writers: reading and rewriting

Students (G4-12): $15

Students (College): $15

There is no charge for the group chaperone/organizer.

Student Tour Option 1: A Days Wait from Winner Take Nothing

We begin the tour in the parlor as students gather for a short story discussion of “A Day’s Wait” (grades 5-8).  Next, a docent will guide students through the house, telling the story of Hemingway’s early years and its influence on his writing. The discussion and tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Student Tour Option 2: Indian Camp from In Our Time

We begin the tour in the parlor as students gather for a short story discussion of “Indian Camp” (grades 9-12, college/university).  Next, a docent will guide students through the house, telling the story of Hemingway’s early years and its influence on his writing. The discussion and tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. (adult themes)

Student Tour Option 3: Journalism

We begin the tour in the parlor as students gather for a discussion on observations. (grades 9-12, college/university).  Next, a docent will guide students through the house, telling the story of Hemingway’s early years and its influence on his writing. The discussion and tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. (adult themes)

To ensure a private tour, we recommend that school group tours be scheduled outside of our regular public admission hours, currently morning or afternoon Monday through Thursday. This ensures that your tour will be specific to your students vs. combined with our public admission visitors.

After submitting the school group request form (below), we will contact you to confirm the requested arrangements including date, time, payment options and any special requests or areas of emphasis. The school group tour payment is due upon arrival on your tour date.  

The guided tour of the Hemingway Birthplace Museum usually lasts approximately 60 minutes depending on tour customizations. Please allow time for your students to disembark/assemble prior to and after your tour.  

If you have any questions, please send a message to: schoolgrouptours@ehfop.org

Accessibility: The birthplace is accessible to standard size wheelchairs. An outdoor lift adjacent to the front porch is available for access to the front door entry, we also have an elevator for access to all floors. We do not have a wheelchair on the premises.We do not provide foreign language or American Sign Language (ALS), but will provide tour scripts in the following languages.