Our sites span the course of our nation’s history while engaging students with the past
All programs are led by professionally trained museum educators and include tours of historic sites and buildings, as well as hands-on activities that connect students in meaningful ways with history.
PHILIPSBURG MANOR
Slavery in the Colonial North
Offered March – December
Discover a new perspective on the colonial era at this meticulously restored 18th-century provisioning plantation. Tours include the manor house, barn, and working mill, offering the opportunity to explore the history and the stories of the enslaved community who were forced to live and work here.
Grades 3 – 5: An interactive tour of the mill, manor house, barn, and activity center, during which students learn about the individual enslaved people at Philipsburg Manor, honor their resilience, and discuss how they nurtured families and built communities in the face of terrible injustice. Students are introduced to the study of historic documents, and select opportunities for hands-on engagement with colonial tasks (such as threshing) are made available for those who wish to participate.
Grades 6 – 12: This program focuses on enriching student comprehension of the fundamental history of Northern slavery, as well as the development of crucial research skills through the study of historic documents. Throughout their tour of immersive historic spaces, students are invited to engage with primary sources that reveal key information about the enslaved people of Philipsburg Manor, and to discuss how enslaved people could and did resist legal efforts to deny their humanity and their agency.
Program length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Price: $8 per student
Group limit: 60 students
Colonial Communities
Offered March – December
Step back in time and explore the diverse colonial communities of early New York! This field trip immerses early elementary students in the rich history of the colonial era, focusing on the experiences of enslaved Africans, tenant farmers, Dutch merchants, and the Lenape people. Students will understand how each community contributed to the larger society, emphasizing the importance of civics and community interdependence.
Grades K-3: In small groups, students will embark on a guided tour of Philipsburg Manor, where they will participate in different hands-on activities representing the lives of enslaved Africans, tenant farmers, Dutch merchants, and the Lenape people. They will learn about the distinct roles each community had, and the challenges they faced living in colonial New York. After their tour, students participate in a map-making activity of Philipsburg Manor to remember their visit.
Program length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Price: $8 per student
Group limit: 60 students
Pinkster: Commemorating Black History, Celebrating Black Culture
Offered May 14, 15, 20 – 22, 2025
Experience and engage in different forms of African cultural expression, including drumming, storytelling, and foodways, which were the heart of Pinkster, a historic holiday celebrated by enslaved communities in the New York area.
Grades: 4-8
Program length: 1.5 hours
Price: $9 per student
Group limit: 90 students per time slot
Times: 10:00-11:30am; Noon-1:30pm
WASHINGTON IRVING’S SUNNYSIDE
Home of the ‘Legend’
Offered May to December
Learn about the life and legacy of the father of American literature. Tour the 19th-century home of Washington Irving and participate in a creative activity responding to the tour content.
Grades 3-5: Younger students tour Washington Irving’s home to learn about life in the 19th century and then participate in an activity exploring 19th-century objects to practice historical thinking skills.
Grades 6-8: A tour of Washington Irving’s cottage and grounds explores the world that inspired Irving’s most famous work. After viewing a short film adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, students learn about the literary techniques used in the story and write, draw, or act out what happens next to the characters in the story.
Grades 9-12: High school students consider Irving’s literacy influences and impact on American culture during a tour of his home, followed by a writing activity in which they explore the many adaptive forms of his most famous work before creating their own version of the Legend.
Grades: 3-12
Program length: 1.5 hours
Price: $8 per student
Group limit: 60 students per time slot
