Muskegon Heritage Museum of Business & Industry offers exciting opportunities for groups to learn about the history of Muskegon’s industries and historic homes. We welcome school tours during the regular museum open hours as well as anytime during the year.
Although the museum is self-guided, tours with a museum docent should be scheduled in advance. Student tours include demonstrations and hands-on activities planned in collaboration with the classroom teacher.
To learn more about all of the engaging hands-on opportunities for schools, please download our Teacher’s Guide below.
To schedule a group or student tour please contact Kirk Bunke at kirk@lakeshoremuseum.org.
School Tour Details:
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Print a bookmark on an antique printing press
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Papermaking demonstrations
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See an 18-Ton working Steam Engine
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Watch 100-year-old working machinery
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Design a lumbering industry log mark
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Watch a working Brunswick Pinsetter up close
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Find out how springs are made and then take one with you
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“Then and Now Museum Mysteries”
The Muskegon Heritage Museum of Business & Industry offers special field trip opportunities for school groups free of charge for all schools in Muskegon County. One of the museum’s goals is to help school children understand the history of Muskegon’s industries, businesses & homes.
The museum can accommodate school tours anytime during the year. We work to make your visit fit your curriculum, state standards and classroom needs by offering many hands-on opportunities for students. The typical time for a visit is 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the plan created for you and your students. Let us know what we can do for your class by contacting the Museum Educational Coordinator.
Students, working in small groups, will observe a printing press from 1907 and print a bookmark. They will see a demonstration of office equipment from early 20th century. They will watch industrial machinery working from a line shaft that is powered by the Corliss Valve Steam Engine. Students will have a chance to see paper being made and hear a Chase Hackley Player Piano from the 1920s. Students will see many logging tools, learn about Muskegon’s lumber mills and make their own log mark on a “log cookie.” Students can participate in a “Then and Now Museum Mysteries” activity to explore other artifacts in the museum.
Grants are available for Muskegon County schools. Applications will be considered on a first come first served basis while funds last, but will be saved in case more funds become available. Only one grant will be given per grade for each school during any given school year.
Grants will not be awarded for trips that were made prior to receiving the application. Grant recipients will be notified by phone and a check for $100 will be sent after the field trip has been completed. Recipients are also asked to provide a thank you letters or a card that we can pass along to bus grant donors.
Download a Bus Grant Application >
Heritage Museum
School Admission Fees
Muskegon County Schools – FREE
Non-Muskegon County Schools
(Includes 1 teacher and up to 5 chaperones)
- $90 per class of 15 to 30 students
- $45 for a class of 15 or less
- $3 per student over 30
- $5 per additional chaperone