School & Youth Programs

Join us for a museum program! Students learn about Chester County’s history through hands-on activities in a museum setting, with a focus on inquiry-based learning. 

Topics Include:

• Colonial Chester County— Students explore what colonial life in Pennsylvania looked like as a child.  Students explore the clothing that was worn, daily chores, and what toys and games were played. Grade Level K-6

• Victorian Childhood— Students step back into the Victorian Era and experience a one room school house, Victorian clothing, tables manners, and what types of toys and games Victorian children played with. Grade Level K-6

• Immigration-– Students explore what immigration looked like for those coming to the colony of Pennsylvania as well as look at what immigration looked like for those immigrating to American during the 1900s.  We compare and contrast the differences, look at the items those brought with them, and think about how we would make those decisions as well. Grade Level K-6

• Underground Railroad— Chester County sits right on the Mason-Dixon Line and experienced a great amount of Underground Railroad activity.  Students will learn about station masters, conductors, stockholders, and the escaped enslaved people that made their way to freedom through Chester County. Grade Level 6-12

• A Walk Through History Walking Tour of West Chester— Students are guided through the beautiful town of West Chester to develop observational skills while learning about architectural elements and the unique styles of famous architects like Thomas U. Walter, T. Roney Williamson, and more. Grade Level K-12
  
• Fierce: Women of West Chester  Walking Tour – Students are guided through West Chester while learning about the dynamic women who helped shape the town, but who are often omitted from history. Grade Level K-12

• Underground Railroad Walking Tour of West Chester— Students are guided through West Chester to explore the stories of those that participated in the Underground Railroad. Grade Level 6-12

Museum Program Admission
1-1.5 hour program $8 per student
2-2.5 hour program $10 per student

Museum Program Dates & Times
Tuesday-Friday 10AM – 4PM
CCHC is closed on Mondays and all major holidays.

For more information, please contact the Education Department at [email protected]

Let CCHC bring our museum to you with our Outreach Programs.  CCHC Educators visit your classroom* with exciting historic objects, primary documents, letters, diaries, tools, toys, photos, and furnishings of the past to enhance history education for students of all ages.

To help guide teachers and students through our outreach programming, please read the information provided below.

Please make a reservation for your Outreach Program with the Education Department 2 WEEKS in advance of your potential program date.

If you would like an entire grade level to participate in the outreach program, a single program can be repeated up to four times in a day. Our programs are designed for a hands-on classroom setting. Please contact us with further questions on this; we are happy to accommodate.

Program Fees: 

• 1 – 1.5 hour program $8 per student
• 2 – 2.5 hour program $10 per student

Outreach Offerings:

• Then and Now –How is a felt hat like a pair of sunglasses? What does a lantern have in common with a flashlight? Students sharpen their skills of observation, comparison and analysis, learning that design and materials change, but human needs stay the same. Grade Level: K-4th

• Growing Up in Colonial Chester County–Students discover how children prepared for their life’s work in colonial times. As apprentices, students try on reproduction clothing, assemble furniture, churn butter and weigh butter cakes on a balance scale, and play with historic toys and games. Grade Level: 3 rd -5 th

• Revolutionary Chester County, 1777-1778–When American and British soldiers converged on Chester County in the fall of 1777, few could imagine the dramatic impact on soldiers and civilians alike. Students will experience an artifact exploration, role-play and practice a military drill. Grade Level: 4th -12th

• The Underground Railroad–Because Chester County is just over the Mason-Dixon Line, escapes and kidnappings of enslaved people took place right in this area. Roleplay activities and a decision-making challenge help students to understand the complexities of the slavery issue in the years leading up to the Civil War. Grade Level: 6th -12th

Interested in a different topic? Please let us know! We try to accommodate if possible.

*Mileage fees may apply

Trunk Rental

Bring the museum to your classroom!  Traveling Trunks are complete lesson plans with activities and hands-on reproduction items.  Traveling Trunks are available for two-week rental periods.

$40/Two Week Rental

We are open for pick-up/drop off of traveling trunks from Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. (Monday & Tuesday by appointment only).

Traveling Trunk Topics Include:

• The Art of Horace Pippin— Born in West Chester, students discover the life and art of Horace Pippin. Students will interact with his art, learn about his process, understand the historical context of his art, and understand his impact on Chester County. Grade Level: K-12th
• Chester County Natural Scientists— Explore the lives of three natural scientists in Chester County, including Hannah Freeman, Humphry Marshall, and Raymond Rettew.  Learn how their differing scientific approaches shaped natural sciences of today! Grade Level 6-12th
• Civil War— Although fighting did not happen in Chester County, residents participated in the Civil War in a number of other ways. Using primary sources and object-based learning, students will discover Chester County’s role and impact on the Civil War. Grade Level: 4th -12th
• Government & Citizenship Trunk – This trunk covers how government functions on the county, state, and federal level, as well as what it means to be a citizen. Students explore the questions around citizenship and its expansion over time, how citizens can engage in their local government, and the responsibilities that the government has to its citizens. Grade level 5th-12th
• Lenape Life— Explore the life of the Lenape, the indigenous population that lived in what is now known as Chester County. Discover how some Lenape traditions are different from your family’s, and some are similar. This trunk highlights important cultural themes such as story telling, games, food, and music. Grade Level: K-5th

• Revolutionary Chester County, 1777-1778–When American and British soldiers converged on Chester County in the fall of 1777, few could imagine the dramatic impact on soldiers and civilians alike. Students will experience an artifact exploration, role-play and practice a military drill, and examine and analyze original documents. Grade Level: 4th – 12th

• The Underground Railroad–Because Chester County is just over the Mason-Dixon Line, escapes and kidnappings of enslaved people took place right in this area. Roleplay activities, decision-making challenges, and original documents help students to understand the complexities of the slavery issue in the years leading up to the Civil War. Grade Level: 6th – 12th

For more information, please contact the Education Department at [email protected].

National History Day (NHD) is an exciting year round academic program for 6th through 12th grade students across the nation. The Chester County History Center is the official coordinator for National History Day in Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania. Each year, over 2,000 local students participate in their schools, 300 advance to compete at the regional level (our contest), and many continue on to the state and national competition. CCHC invites you to compete, judge, or sponsor National History Day in support of history education.

Southeastern PA NHD Contest will be held in March 21-22, 2025.

The 2025 contest theme is Rights & Responsibilities in History.

CLICK HERE to Learn More About the Theme

For information on NHD Classroom Outreach and NHD Teacher Resources, Contact Caitlin McGeever at [email protected].

Looking for NHD Resources and Information for Your Project?

Please visit the NHD Resource Portal! (not yet updated for 2025)