The general tour is a self-guided tour of the Michigan Historical Museum's permanent exhibits. Groups receive a brief orientation to the museum before their tour. Plan approximately 90 minutes for the tour.
General tours of the museum for groups of ten or more must be reserved through the Capitol Tour and Information Service; telephone (517) 373-2353. You can book a general tour up to one year in advance; if you are working on a shorter time frame, it is a good idea to have alternative dates when you call. If anyone in your group has a special need (e.g. wheelchair, sign language, interpreter for a foreign language), share that information when you call—we do our best to meet our visitors' needs.
Students studying Michigan history will benefit from visits that concentrate on one part of the exhibits or a few selected galleries rather than trying to see the whole museum. This is also true for our youngest visitors. See History Excursions for these options.
Supervision
Teachers and chaperons are responsible for their students' behavior. Minimum chaperon requirements are:
- Grades pre-K to 2: one chaperon for every two children
- Grades 3 to 12: one chaperon for every five students
Best Times to Visit
The museum is busiest during the spring field trip season. We encourage teachers and other group leaders to plan your visit for other times of the year when your group can get the most out of the museum experience.
See our calendar of events for special programs at the museum. See our holiday closing schedule for dates that the museum is closed.
Museum Hours
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.
When You Arrive
Please check your group in at the information desk located inside the south entrance of the Michigan Library and Historical Center.
Lunch at the Michigan Historical Museum
Students and chaperons can bring sack lunches and eat at the museum's eating area located on the first floor, across from the Museum Store. Seating is limited, available on a first-come, first-served basis. O'Dell Snacks and Vending is open weekdays and offers fresh pizza, sandwiches and soups. Telephone ODELL at (517) 485-3055.
Museum Store
Visit the Museum Store for Michigan related books and gifts. The Museum Store is open seven days a week.
Location and Parking
The Michigan Historical Museum is located in the Michigan Library and Historical Center at 702 West Kalamazoo Street, two blocks west of the State Capitol in Lansing. The entrance to the visitor parking lot is located south of the building off Kalamazoo Street, two blocks east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Weekdays, buses park free; automobiles pay 75 cents per hour. Weekend parking is free. See the map on this web site or in your confirmation packet.
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Updated 11/16/2007
Michigan
Historical Center, Department of History, Arts and Libraries
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