Independent field trips for elementary students that began as The National Museum of Transportation's "plan B" during the 2020 pandemic became a useful teaching tool for parents and small group educators -- one that museum managers intend to continue through Oct. 31 and most likely beyond.
“We knew many children were learning virtually or in hybrid models. And we have a robust homeschooling community in our area. The field trips give students the opportunity to visit the museum and participate in self-guided education," says Terri McEachern, TNMOT executive director.
For $10 per person, field trips include museum admission, miniature train ride (weather permitting), self-guided activity pamphlet, Made-By-Me take-home train, and an at-home activity. The program is designed for one student with an adult or a small group of up to 14 total guests, and is offered Monday through Friday.
The museum houses "one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world," according to Smithsonian Institution officials.
Trip activities are for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Terri says program materials were developed in part by Parkway School District SPARK students. She adds Missouri participants to-date have been from as far as Sullivan, Perryville and Troy.
Field trip reservations are required at least one week in advance; call 314.858.1343.
Feature Fridays
Presenters give 30-minute talks at 10:30 a.m. about various artifact treasures:
- Sept. 3: The Barretts Tunnel is one of the first tunnels built west of the Mississippi River and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
- Sept. 10: Waterworks #10 trolley, which transported passengers in 1914.
- Sept. 17: H.T. Pott Towboat and the C-47A/Douglas DC-3 Aircraft, which was the first-of-its-kind Missouri River towboat.
- Sept 24: Chrysler Turbine Car, the vehicle Jay Leno tried to buy from the museum.
2933 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood
TNMOT.org
