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. 

Museum Program Admission
1-1.5 hour program $5/student
2-2.5 hour program $7/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 Education@mycchc.org

Through the lens of local history, the Chester County History Center (CCHC) tells the story of America’s past. We teach through the power of historic objects – the 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 $6 per student
• 2 – 2.5 hour program $8 per student

Outreach Offerings:

• Quilts Tell Stories–Students listen to a quilt story, examine quilts and quilt fragments from the CCHC collection, experiment with colors and patterns in creating designs, and create their own quilt square. Grade Level: K-2 nd

• 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: 4th -12th

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

Trunk Rental

$40/Two Week Rental

We will work together to coordinate your Two Week Rental.

We are open for pick-up/drop off of traveling trunks from Monday-Saturday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Traveling Trunk Topics Include:

• 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: 4th – 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

• 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

For more information, please contact the Education Department at Education@mycchc.org.

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.

National History Day will be VIRTUAL this year!

Southeastern PA NHD’s Virtual Award Ceremony took place, Saturday, March 27, 2021.

This year’s contest theme is Debate and Diplomacy in History.

Congratulations to our Region 10 NHD 2021 Winners!!

Interested in Participating in NHD 2021 as a Student, Teacher, Judge, or Volunteer? Contact Lindsay Campellone at nhdcoord@mycchc.org

For information on NHD Classroom Outreach and NHD Teacher Resources, Contact Lindsay Campellone at nhdcoord@mycchc.org.

Looking for NHD Resources and Information for a Virtual Contest? 

Please visit the *NEW* NHD Resource Portal!