Funk Heritage Center School Field Trips

Click here for pdf copy of the winter 2013 Educator's Newsletter.

The Funk Heritage Center is designated by the state legislature as Georgia’s Official Frontier and Southeastern Indian Interpretive Center. Guided tours of the Bennett History Museum are available for both public and private schools. Tours are designed with the Georgia Performance Standards in mind and require a minimum of twenty students. Title 1 schools, please call for pricing details. Students learn about the Southeastern Indians and early European Settlers of the Appalachian foothills. Teachers may want to add a visit to the museum store to their field trip. Child care center tours are offered during the summer.

  Teachers can select from the following school field trips:

1) Native Americans of the Southeast - 1  hour  $5

Students view a 15 minute film on the Southeastern Indians and see exhibits in the Longhouse and in the Hall of Ancients.  They learn the types of shelters the Southeastern Indians built, how they hunted, fished and farmed, what they wore and how they traveled. Classes are introduced to the culture of these people, the Trail of Tears and the impact of European settlements on the Native population. They will also see how archaeology has contributed to our knowledge of the past. With outdoor option, add $2.

 2) From Past to Present - 1 ½ hour $6

This tour includes a film on the Southeastern Indians, and a visit to the Hall of the Ancients and the Longhouse. In the Rogers Contemporary Native American Art Gallery, there are many types of art including baskets, sculptures, pottery, beadwork and paintings by artists who are descendants of the original Native Americans. This tour also includes the Sellars Gallery of Historic Hand Tools featuring a unique collection of tools from more than 100 crafts. Docents focus on tools used by important craftsmen studied in the elementary grades. With outdoor option, add $2.

   Outdoor Option: History Alive – 1 hour ($2 additional fee)

A visit to the Appalachian Settlement, weather permitting, may be added to Tour 1 or 2. Students learn how the Appalachian settlers lived. They visit a historic log cabin, the blacksmith shop and learn how pioneer families coped with daily difficulties. Docents explain how frontier families lived in the 1840’s. Living history volunteers dressed in period clothing will be a part of this program when available. This program is not offered in December, January or February.

The annual Georgia History Timeline is held in the Appalachian Settlement each fall. This popular living history event is reserved for school students. Groups are scheduled to visit professional history interpreters who present brief exciting programs, and students will visit the pioneer village. Teachers are encouraged to make reservations early in order to schedule the best day and time for their school. In 2012, the program will be held October 10, 11 and 12. One teacher per 20 students admitted free. $12 per student/adult. This outdoor event does not include a tour of the Bennett History Museum.

Pioneer Days is held each spring and it will be held on May 8-9 in 2013. It is limited to 200 children each day. This annual two-hour program for students K-5 is held in the Appalachian Settlement and features living history volunteers dressed in period clothing. Children visit log cabins, the blacksmith shop, the sorghum syrup mill and observe settlers demonstrating crafts.They will enjoy learn about gardening and and old-time music.This outdoor event does not include a tour of the Bennett History Museum. One teacher per 20 students admitted free. $7 per student/adult.

School Group Tour Prices

• School field trip admission fees for students are $5 or $6 depending on the tour selected and $6.00 for adults (plus tax if your group is not sales tax exempt). 
• Homeschool group tours can be arranged for 15 or more students.
• If your tour includes History Alive as an option, there is an extra charge of $2 per student/adult.
• Guided tours may be arranged for groups of 20 or more children..
• Summer group tours for child care centers may include a special craft session ($1 craft fee added to tour fee) and may be arranged for a group of 10 or more children.
• Prices are subject to change for special event school field trips.

Picnic tables available on the grounds