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Field Trips
Adventures in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau
An Educational Escapes Student Sample Itinerary
Visit www.huntsville.org and www.educationalescapes.org
| Day 1 | |
| 9 a.m. | BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN: Earliest known
Alabama Cabin and a 1936 "GREEN" House Established as Huntsville's first museum in 1955, Burritt on the Mountain'soriginal building was the home of Dr. William Henry Burritt, a noted local homeopathic physician and farmer. Some of the features incorporated in his mansion are now recommended for "green" homes of today. At Burritt, students can visit some early American "castles" of the Cumberland region. These log structures dominated the region's early rural landscapes and are furnished with authentic relics and reproductions. Visit online at www.burrittonthemountain.com |
| 11:30 a.m. | CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT Enjoy lunch at the Historic Huntsville Depot, built in 1860, and occupied by the Union Army during the Civil War. Students will discuss and analyze the culture and lives of people living during the 1860s inthe South. They will develop map and globe skills by locating features associated with the Civil War; use cardinal and intermediate directions to describe routes used in the war and locate and identify states in the Confederacy and Union. Lasting cultural influences of the Civil War will be explored: food, medicine, music, literature, social structure. Visit online at www.earlyworks.com |
| 1:30 p.m. | CIVIL WAR HISTORY at WEEDEN HOUSE Built in 1819, the Weeden House was home to the 19th century poet and artist, Maria Howard Weeden. Presented by the museum's curator, history comes to life through the words and art of Miss Weeden as she captured the spirit of an era across cultural divides. The life of Maria Howard Weeden will be presented to the students as they learn how this poet, artist and plantation owner used the conflict of the Civil War to write history. Visitors will also learn how people during the Civil War survived and how individuals and groups responded differently to their physical and social environments during the Civil War. |
| 3:00 p.m. | VILLAGE LIVING HISTORY: Alabama's Birthplace Alabama Constitution Village, a living history museum, marks the site where Alabama became the 22nd state admitted to the Union in 1819. Interpreters make history come alive as they invite students to card cotton, turn the great wheel lathe in the cabinet shop, stoke the fires in the blacksmith shop and dip candles. Visit www.earlyworks.com. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Check in your hotel. |
| 6:00 p.m. | DINNER AND FUN AT BRIDGE STREET TOWN CENTRE Situated on a 10 acre lake with gondola rides and pedal boats, Bridge Street features some of the finest shopping, dining and entertainment venues in the country and is quickly becoming a destination in its own right. Monaco Pictures, the new upscale 14-screen theater, offers food and beverage service and theaters can be reserved for student groups. Visit online at www.bridgestreethuntsville.com. |
| Day 2 | |
| Breakfast at the hotel | |
| 9 a.m. | 3 . . 2 . . 1 . . BLAST OFF! The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, offers visitors a look at the history of space aviation as well as a glimpse into the future. The recently opened Davidson Center for Space Exploration houses one of only three remaining actual Saturn V moon rockets suspended 12 feet above the floor! The Davidson Center also houses a new 3-D theater in addition to the existing IMAX. Marvel at many artifacts only seen in Huntsville including a full-scale, full-stack shuttle and enjoy the thrill of three times the force of gravity as you spin in the "G-Force Accelerator" and the powerful G forces of launch aboard the "Space Shot."The Ultimate Field Tripincludes a guided tour of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center museum, an interactive presentation and demonstration about life on the International Space Station, an IMAX movie and hands-on group experiments. Visit online at www.spacecamp.com/museum |
| 2:00 p.m. | MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER: Birthplace of the U.S. Space Program Marshall Space Flight Center develops key space transportation and propulsion technologies, manages Space Shuttle propulsion elements and science aboard the International Space Station and pursues scientific breakthroughs in space that will improve human life here on Earth for many generations to come. Since tours of the Center are no longer available to individual travelers, this is truly a unique learning experience for youngsters to enjoy. The Heritage Gallery is a museum for Center visitors to learn about the history of Marshall since its opening in 1960. While visiting Marshall, witness history being made! The Payload Operations Integration Center is responsible for NASA 's on board science operations for the International Space Station (ISS), and is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Marshall Space Flight Center. There is a viewing area where visitors can observe the control room operations. (These activities available on a limited basis and are subject to cancellations based on National Security alerts.) www.msfc.nasa.gov |
| 3:30 p.m. | REDSTONE ARSENAL: Helicopters, Missiles and Computer Games For more than 55 years, Redstone Arsenal has been the heart of the Army's rocket and missile programs. The mission of "Team Redstone" is performing basic and advanced weapons system research and development, placing the right missile and aviation systems with our troops, and providing weapon systems, services and supplies to our allies (These activities available on a limited basis and are subject to cancellations based on National Security alerts.) www.garrison.redstone.army.mil |
| 6:00 p.m. | EARLYWORKS SLEEPOVER: A Night in the Museum! While over-nighting in EarlyWorks Children's Museum, students will solve a mystery that will take them on an adventure down the river in a keelboat, through a mine explosion, a haunted log cabin and the old town court house. Teams will gather on a giant map to receive their first clues; using problem-solving and strategy, players will search for more clues and barter with other teams in a race to be the team which survives! The Sleepover is supervised and includes dinner and breakfast. No showers. www.earlyworks.com |
| Day 3 | |
| Breakfast at the museum | |
| 11:30 a.m. | VETERANS MEMORIAL MUSEUM: Our Nation's Military Heritage Designated by the Alabama House of Representatives as the State of Alabama Veterans Memorial Museum, this unique venue displays more than 30 historical military vehicles from World War I to the present, as well as tableaus, artifacts, and other memorabilia dating back to the Revolutionary War. Veteran volunteers present fascinating first-hand accounts of some of America's most significant historic moments. The students will learn about Citizen Soldier Tradition, respect for the flag and armed conflicts at home and abroad from the military staff who "lived the history." Students will participate in presentations of specialized facets of military history, often by veterans who were there. This is an ongoing program presented by veterans of World War II and later wars who will share with the students about morals, personal objectives and accomplishments of young people of another time. www.memorialmuseum.org |
| Lunch and Depart for home. |