School and Group Visits
Want to bring a large group to visit the West Virginia State Museum?
We encourage you to participate in our structured programming! We proudly offer a variety of educational tours and activities that were developed through a team effort with educators and historians. Don't miss this unique experience exploring West Virginia's history from petroglyphs to polymers—perfect for all ages. The best part? All of our programs are offered free of charge.
It is strongly encouraged that you schedule your visit in advance. Browse the information below to learn more about our educational tours and activities.
Contact us at (304) 558-0220 or WVMuseumEd@wv.gov today to get started. Requests may also be submitted at WVTourism.com/wv-capitol-tours-school-info.
Tours
The West Virginia State Museum is located within the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex. Our convenient location allows us to offer a variety of tours during your visit.
Self-Guided
Museum Tours
We offer self-guided tours with the option to enhance your experience with scavenger hunt-styled activity guides designed to offer a more in-depth experience. Explore at your own pace or dive deeper into each exhibit with insightful information to guide your experience.
Know Before You Go
- A central museum show path features an immersive tour through West Virginia history from prehistory all the way through the 21st century.
- 26 themed Discovery Rooms connect to the show path and feature artifacts, artwork, stories, music, and film clips that immerse visitors in each time and place as history comes alive through first-person accounts and dynamic re-creations of pivotal moments in the state's past.
- 2 Connections Rooms allow visitors to dig deeper with touchscreens available to further explore West Virginia's deep cultural roots and rich history.
Due to the self-guided nature of this tour, timing will vary
Guided
State Capitol Tours
While visiting the State Capitol Complex, add on a tour of the State Capitol building. Tours of the Capitol begin every half hour on the first floor Rotunda and are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The last tour of the day begins at 3:30 p.m.
Note: Groups of 10 individuals or fewer are welcome to join a regularly scheduled tour without a reservation.
In order to provide the best service, groups of more than 10 individuals are strongly encouraged to make reservations at least 48 hours in advance.
Capitol tour reservations can be made directly by calling the Capitol Tours and Information desk at (304) 558-4839 or added to your museum visit when you schedule with our Museum Education staff at (304) 558-0220 or WVMuseumEd@wv.gov.
Estimated tour time is approximately 30 minutes
Currently Unavailable
Governor's Mansion Tours
Tours of the Governor's Mansion are currently unavailable.
Located to the West of the State Capitol is the 30-room executive mansion. This elegant Gregorian is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Note: Due to the number of requests for tours of the Governor's Mansion, reservations are required and honored on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations required
Self-Guided
Monuments/Grounds Tour
Stroll the beautiful grounds of the State Capitol Complex as you explore the architecture and statuary at the Capitol Complex in this self-guided walking outdoor walking tour.
Due to the self-guided nature of the tour, timing will vary. Tour time is typically between 30 - 45 minutes.
Guided
Supreme Court/West Virginia Judicial Learning Center Tours
Get a closer look into the judicial branch. Contact the Capitol Tours and Information desk at (304) 558-4839 for reservations and more information about tours of the Supreme Court Courtroom and West Virginia Judicial Learning Center or add it as a stop on your museum field trip visit when you schedule with our Museum Education staff at (304) 558-0220 or WVMuseumEd@wv.gov
Additional information availale at: courtswv.gov/public-resources/learning-center.
Estimated tour time is approximately 30 minutes
Programs
Add on educational activities to enhance your museum experience!
Little Bits
Explore the sights and sounds of the museum. Includes 3 scavenger hunts designed to engage young learners in a fun, meaningful experience.
Designed for Kindergarten, 1st, and early 2nd grade learners
The Student's Discovery Guide
Get the ultimate museum investigation tool designed for students. Includes the Discovery Room Quest, artifact seek-and-finds, vocabularly highlights, reading passages, and reflection questions for post-visit learning.
Designed for students in 2nd Grade through 12th Grade
County Challenge
Begin your county unit here! Explore the museum searching for artifacts and information from all 55 counties and record your findings in this booklet to keep the learning going even after you leave.
Designed for students in 2nd Grade through 12th Grade
Young Writers
Examine big-picture questions and journal about topics to stimulate your post-visit research, group discussions, and literary work. Teachers are also welcome to bring along their own customized questions and prompts.
Available in two levels: Primary (Grades 2 - 5) and Secondary (Grades 6-12)
West Virginia Documentaries
Add a movie to your visit! We show a variety of movies in the Museum Education Center with several topics available to choose. Our current movie topics include:
- West Virginia Statehood
- The State Capitol
- The Civil War
- Prehistoric Culture
- The Silver Bridge Disaster
- John Henry (an animated film)
Museum Education Student Workshops
Add an additional hands-on learning experience to your visit! With the exception of the State Symbols Sticker Book, our student workshops are designed for students in Grades 2 through 12. Please note that we have a limit of 28 students per session. Browse our workshop offerings below:
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
State Symbols Sticker Book
Introduce young learners to some of West Virginia's most iconic state symbols throuhg a fun follow-along style sticker activity with coloring pages.
This workshop is designed for students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Weaving
Learn the art of weaving using a simple loom. After a short demonstration, students will craft their own pot holder.
Painting
Flex your creativity and step inside the world of art. Students will use water and color to create a work of art that demonstrates their love of West Virginia.
Pottery
Introduce students to the art of pottery. Students will use clay to create a unique, handmade piece to take home.
Building Bridges with STEM!
Science and history come together in this collaborative workshop that introduces the history of bridges of West Virginia. Students will work together in teams to use their engineering skills in order to build their own weight-supporting bridge with basic materials.
Learning Resources
Keep the learning going after your visit. Expand your West Virginia studies with our free educational resources. We offer a variety of lesson plans and other teacher resources that support the West Virginia Department of Education's (WVDE) vision of high standards and preparedness for higher learning.
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