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Museum Tours

""Students on a guided tour.""

Experience the diverse history, culture, and science of South Dakota agriculture at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. We offer both school and group guided tours of the museum upon request. Our tours are free to the public, but we do recommend a donation of up to $3 per person.

To schedule a tour at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, choose the tour option that best applies to you. Please read through the information below before submitting your tour request form.

SCHOOL OR YOUTH GROUP TOUR OPTIONS

We offer two tour variations for school or youth groups.

Option 1: Museum Only Tour (Recommended for groups around 40 or less):
Museum staff will plan and organize a tour for your requested group and provide in-museum educational enrichment and activities for students to enjoy. We find that smaller group sizes make for a more rewarding museum experience, but if your school group exceeds the recommended number of people, separate tours may be set up on different days to accommodate the entire group (for example, if you would like to arrange for your entire 4th grade level to come, we can easily split the grade level up between two weekdays and accommodate all students).

Option 2: Museum and Campus Rotations (Recommended for any size groups, but required for larger groups):
With this option, you decide where you'd like to go and we'll take over from there! Museum staff will review your request and work with SDSU's most popular campus attractions to set up a rotational schedule for you - all you have to do is show up with your schedule and campus map. For each stop, we plan around 45 minutes.

Alongside the museum, alternate group rotations include:

  • The South Dakota Art Museum
  • SDSU Dairy Bar - tours are free, but adding ice cream will cost $2.09 for one scoop ($2.25 with tax) and $3.09 for two scoops ($3.32 with tax)
  • The SDSU Cow/Calf Unit (barns)
  • The SDSU Dairy Unit (barns)
  • The SDSU Horse Unit (barns)
  • The SDSU Sheep Unit (barns)
  • The SDSU Swine Unit (barns)
  • McCrory Gardens (Your group may choose to tour the grounds as well as have a picnic lunch)
  • SDSU Athletic Complex and Football Stadium
  • SDSU Admissions (8th grade and up)
  • Other locations available under special request - contact us in advance for more information
  • Disclaimer: All campus attractions may not be available on your requested tour day. The earlier you make a request the more likely the availability.

SCHOOL AND YOUTH GROUP TOUR REQUEST FORM

NOTICE: When you are on a school-sanctioned field trip, you, the teacher are responsible for your class. Even though you are not in your classroom, you are still the adult responsible for the safety of the children in your care.

  • The museum and other locations on campus can be busy places. Many teachers book a few months in advance, but we ask you to book your tour at least 20 days in advance.
  • When making reservations, please have a minimum of three alternate dates in mind. The date you have in mind may already be booked.
  • The museum will not accept tours made through a third party.
  • Guided tours are a minimum of 45 minutes and are led by a member of the museum staff or a volunteer. Tours consist of an age appropriate lesson/activity. If you'd like us to cover a specific topic or standard during your tour, please let us know when booking your tour.
  • Self-guided/teacher led tours are welcome, but you still MUST make a reservation so we know when you are coming.
  • We request that school groups have at least one adult for every ten children. Teachers and chaperones must stay with the group throughout the visit.
  • If your group is delayed, your plans change, or you decide to cancel, please notify the museum as soon as possible. Contact the museum at 605-688-6226 or by e-mailing Sarah Jacobs, education coordinator.
  • There is a small gift shop in the museum where unique South Dakota gifts, books and souvenirs may be purchased. Allowing your students into the shop is your option and students MUST be accompanied by an adult.
  • If you have students who have special needs, please let the museum know this at the time you make the reservation. With this information, we can plan a more effective tour. If you have a number of students in your group for whom English is NOT their first language, we need to know that also. Adjustments can be made so that they can understand the tour and have fun.
  • In order to preserve the artifacts on exhibit for future generations, we ask you to not smoke, eat, or drink while in the museum. We also ask that you do not touch artifacts unless directed by a museum attendant.
  • Once your tour is booked, a copy of your schedule and parking information will be sent via email. If you are arriving in a car caravan, you will need parking permits for each vehicle available at the museum front desk.

GROUP TOURS (NON-SCHOOL)

  • Group tours are recommended for groups of 40 or less. If you have a group of over 40 people, you can request to visit other places on campus as well, including:
    • The South Dakota Art Museum
    • SDSU Dairy Bar - tours are free, but adding ice cream will cost $2.09 for one scoop ($2.25 with tax) and $3.09 for two scoops ($3.32 with tax)
    • The SDSU Cow/Calf Unit (barns)
    • The SDSU Dairy Unit (barns)
    • The SDSU Horse Unit (barns)
    • The SDSU Sheep Unit (barns)
    • The SDSU Swine Unit (barns)
    • McCrory Gardens (Your group may choose to tour the grounds as well as have a picnic lunch)
    • SDSU Athletic Complex and Football Stadium
    • SDSU Admissions (8th grade and up)
    • Other locations available under special request - contact us in advance for more information
    • Disclaimer: All campus attractions may not be available on your requested tour day. The earlier you make a request the more likely the availability.
  • Our tours are free to the public, but we do recommend a donation of up $3 per person.
  • The museum and other locations on campus can be busy places. Many groups book a few months in advance, but we ask you to book your tour at least 10 days in advance.
  • When making reservations, please have a minimum of three alternate dates in mind. The date you have in mind may already be booked.
  • Guided tours last generally last between 30-45 minutes depending on group size and the number of questions asked during the tour. We encourage groups to plan a minimum of 45 minutes at the museum for the tour, and you may wish to add an additional 15-30 minutes for participants to explore the museum on their own or visit our gift shop.
  • The museum can accommodate bus tours Monday-Friday 9 am – 4 pm. Self-guided tours are welcome, but you still MUST make a reservation.
  • If your group is delayed, your plans change, or you decide to cancel, please notify the museum as soon as possible. Contact the museum at 605-688-6226 or by e-mailing Sarah Jacobs, education coordinator.
  • If you have participants in your group who have special needs, please let the museum know this a the time of your reservation.
  • In order to preserve the artifacts on exhibit for future generations, we ask you to not smoke, eat, or drink while in the museum. We also ask that you do not touch artifacts unless directed by a museum attendant.
  • Once your tour is booked, a copy of your schedule or confirmation of your date will be sent via email.
  • Buses can unload passengers in our visitors lot to the West of the building directly off 11th Street. Buses may park in the lot directly behind/north of the museum.
  • If you are arriving in a car caravan, you will need parking permits for each vehicle available at the museum front desk.

GROUP TOUR REGISTRATION FORM

Students are sitting at two long tables inside the Agricultural Heritage Museum while presenter holds a sign that says "Works Round the Clock - Farm Motors".
A group of young children on sitting on mats at the Agricultural Heritage Museum while the presenter is speaking at the microbes exhibit.
A group of young children are sitting at tap with three pie pans on it.
"Students on a guided school tour"