Guidelines for Museum Visit
We want to ensure that students, teachers, and parent chaperones are all prepared for your field trip to MOHAI. Please review the information below carefully. Please feel free to contact the education team using the information above if you have any questions or concerns.
Tips for Teachers & Chaperones to Plan Your Visit
Group Entrance
Monday through Friday School Groups enter at the lower doors, directly below the main entrance, unless directed otherwise. A museum staff member will meet you at the group entrance at the time indicated on your confirmation letter. If there are multiple classrooms visiting from your school we require all students to enter the museum at the earliest start time for a formal orientation.
Bags & Coats
There is no secured location for backpacks, lunches, bags and coats. Lunches and backpacks may be stored in bins during your visit and collected prior to your departure.
Arrival Time
Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your visit is scheduled to begin. To save time, please ask the children to use the restrooms before they leave your site. If a long trip to the museum is required please notify us ahead of time and plan extra time for restroom breaks. Late arrival will affect your visit, by shortening the length of your program to fit into the remaining time. Please plan accordingly.
Eating Lunch
The Museum does not have an indoor lunch facility, so please notify us if you are planning to eat on-site. Lunches and snacks may be eaten in adjacent McCurdy Park, although there is no covered area. If it is raining, and no events are taking place in the museum, students may eat on the floor of the McEachern Auditorium lobby; however, this area is part of the museum galleries, so it is very important that any traces of food are cleaned up before your group leaves.
Chaperones
One adult for every 5 students is required to provide guidance and supervision in the Museum. Students are required to remain in their supervised groups. Teachers and chaperones set the standard for behavior by remaining with their group at all times, and by being responsible for the courtesy and good conduct of their students. We require that chaperones do not bring additional children who are not part of the class. We recommend that the teacher supervise the chaperones and students.
Museum Etiquette
In order to protect the artifacts, we ask people not to touch them. Also, due to the structure of the building, sound is magnified. Quiet movements and voices will not disturb other museum groups and guests; loud voices, shouting, and running are not permitted. The museum reserves the right to ask any group to leave the facility in the event that any of these rules are disregarded.
Preparing Chaperones
Prepare your chaperones by sharing the goals of your visit, reviewing museum etiquette, and making sure they are familiar with the roles and responsibilities they will have during the tour. Cracking the History Code (3rd-5th Grade) and Discovering Seattle Stories (K-2nd Grade) require chaperones to actively participate to help students have a successful program. For details please see the Programs for Students page.
Please print and share “Guidelines for Museum Behavior” with all of your chaperones and/or students.
Guidelines for Museum Behavior (PDF)
Support MOHAI
Membership > Volunteer >
Make a Gift > History is Moving >
Plan an Event
Photo Archive
Search for photos >
Order and request form >
Price list >
FAQ >
What's New
We have lots of history tours all around Seattle this fall. Check out for full schedule on our Calendar.
Calendar Highlights
Sat. February 11th
10 a.m. to noon
History Cafe
Labor History
Thu. February 16th
7 to 8 p.m.
Call to Conscience 2012 with Tony Benton
Sun. February 26th
3 - 5 p.m.
Newsletter
Research Resources
Browse Research Collections >
Finding Aids >
Nearby Historians >
Oral Histories >
Exhibits & Programs
Exhibits >
Community Programs >
Are you considering donating an artifact to MOHAI? Please complete our
Artifact Evaluation Questionnaire >