History Your Students
Won’t Learn From a Textbook
Three immersive, curriculum-aligned field trip programs across two award-winning historic sites in Ludington, Michigan. Real buildings. Real artifacts. Real interpreters. An experience students — and teachers — remember for years.
BUILT FOR EDUCATORS
A Field Trip That Earns Its Place on the Schedule
We know you need more than “fun.” You need clear curriculum alignment, reliable logistics, and an experience your students will carry into the classroom for weeks. That’s what we’ve spent 87 years building.
Our school programs bring Michigan history standards to life through living history demonstrations, original 19th-century structures, and interactive maritime exhibits housed in a National Register of Historic Places building. Whether your class is studying pioneer life, maritime heritage, or the one-room schoolhouse era, we have a program designed for your grade level.
Michigan Curriculum Aligned
Programs are designed around Michigan K–6 social studies standards — pioneer life, Michigan history, and Great Lakes maritime heritage. Documentation available on request.
National Register of Historic Places
The Port of Ludington Maritime Museum is housed in Ludington’s 1934 Coast Guard station — an officially designated historic landmark with three floors of interactive exhibits
Hands-On, Not Hands-Off
Live interpreters in every building. Students don’t read about history — they watch a blacksmith fire his forge, step inside an 1895 one-room schoolhouse, and take the wheel of a virtual Great Lakes car ferry.
Field Trip Programs
Choose the program that fits your grade level and curriculum goals — or combine programs for a full-day cross-site experience.
History in Action Day
The Village comes alive on History in Action Days with live interpreters in every building, hands-on demonstrations, and an immersive experience that inspires classrooms for months. Across 30 buildings and 12 acres, students experience pioneer life as it actually was.
One Room School Experience
Your classroom travels back to 1895. The One Room School Experience places students inside the original Marchido Schoolhouse — a one-room school built in Mason County that year — for a full morning of lessons, recess, and history lived rather than read. We’re now welcoming second-generation students whose parents attended this very same program.
Maritime History Day
Housed in Ludington’s historic 1934 Coast Guard Station — listed on the National Register of Historic Places — the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum brings Great Lakes history to life across three floors of interactive exhibits. Students don’t just look at history; they steer it.
FIELD TRIP PACKAGES
Simple, Affordable Pricing
The same pricing applies to all three programs at both White Pine Village and the Maritime Museum.
Students
$9
Applies to all K–12 students. Homeschool students at the same rate. Out-of-district students welcome.
Chaperones
$12
Required 1:10 ratio. Additional parent chaperones are also $12. All adults must be on the reservation.
Teachers & Staff
FREE
All public school teachers and school staff attend free. School identification may be requested at check-in.
Payment accepted by credit card or check, due one week before your visit date.
Questions about pricing? Call (231) 843-4808 or email Michelle.
EDUCATORS & TEACHERS
What Teachers Are Saying
Thousands of West Michigan classrooms have made this their annual field trip. Here’s why they keep coming back.
My 3rd graders still talk about the blacksmith six months later. The History in Action Day did more for their understanding of pioneer life than three weeks of classroom lessons. We’ll be back every year.
The One Room School Experience is unlike anything else I’ve found in West Michigan. The kids walk away with a completely different perspective on education and history. The school marm is fantastic.
The Maritime Museum exceeded every expectation. The Pere Marquette simulator had my 2nd graders completely captivated. The staff was incredibly accommodating with our group’s needs. Highly recommend.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Field Trip FAQs
Answers to the most common questions from educators.
How far in advance do I need to book?
We recommend booking several months in advance, especially for spring History in Action Days in May, which are extremely popular and fill up quickly. The absolute minimum lead time is 2 weeks prior to your visit date. History in Action Days are capped at 500 visitors per day, so early reservations are essential. Call (231) 843-4808 or email Michelle to check availability.
What are the specific History in Action Day dates for 2026?
Spring 2026 HIA Days: Thursdays in May (exact dates TBD — contact us to confirm). Fall 2026 HIA Days: September 26th, October 3rd, and October 10th. Maritime History Days are offered in both spring (May) and fall — call for exact dates. The One Room School Experience is spring only.
What grades are these programs designed for?
History in Action Day and the One Room School Experience at Historic White Pine Village are specifically designed for 3rd–4th graders, though all grade levels are welcome and will find value in the experience. Maritime History Day at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum is geared toward the 2nd-grade curriculum, but is equally engaging for all grade levels. Homeschool groups of any age or mix are welcome at all programs.
How many chaperones do we need to bring?
The required ratio is 1 chaperone for every 10 students. All chaperones and additional adults must be included in your total reservation headcount before your visit. People not listed in your initial reservation may not be permitted to participate due to capacity limits. If additions can be accommodated, payment must be made before entering the grounds. Chaperones are admitted at $12 per person.
When is payment due, and what forms of payment do you accept?
Full payment is due one week prior to your visit. Your total should include all students and chaperones. We accept credit cards or checks. Upon registration, you’ll receive an email with a confirmation sheet, fact sheet, and museum policies. Public school teachers attend free — no charge.
Where do the buses park at each location?
Historic White Pine Village (HWPV): Buses pull in through the gate and onto the back grass area to unload. Individual cars can park in the parking lot or on grass areas. Port of Ludington Maritime Museum (PLMM): Bus parking is in the City lot west of the Museum — pull in and park in the southeast corner. A sidewalk leads directly to the museum entrance. Parking is free at both locations.
Can we eat lunch on-site?
Yes. Picnic tables are available throughout the grounds at Historic White Pine Village on a first-come, first-served basis. A few picnic tables are available at the gazebo near the bus parking area at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Students and teachers are strongly encouraged to leave personal belongings at school or on the bus — MCHS cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen items.
Do you offer programs for homeschooled groups?
Absolutely. We warmly welcome all school-aged homeschool groups — no matter their size — at any of our programs. Please contact Michelle at (231) 843-4808 or michelle@mchshistory.org for custom pricing and to check availability. Homeschool groups may attend on History in Action Days or Maritime History Days.
Can we visit on a non-designated school day?
Yes. Both sites are open Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM from May through mid-October. Non-HIA days at HWPV do not have special living history activities or interpreters, so the experience will be a self-guided tour rather than a fully programmed day. We recommend scheduling on designated HIA or MHD days for the best educational experience. Call to make reservations on non-program days.
Ready to Book Your Field Trip?
Whether you're planning a wedding, a baptism, or a memorial service, we'd love to host your most meaningful moments at Historic White Pine Village.
Reach out today to check availability, ask questions, or schedule a visit to see the chapel in person.
Call Us
(231) 843-4808
rebecca@mchshistory.org
Visit Us
1687 S Lakeshore Dr
Ludington, MI 49431
Spring Spots are
Going Fast
History in Action Days fill up months in advance. Don’t let your class miss out on the most memorable field trip of their school year.