History is Fun at the Orange County Historical Museum!

The museum offers several programs to educate and entertain your children. Our hands-on activities challenge children to be observant, solve problems, and express creativity, all while having a great time!

On-Site Heritage Education
Teachers, bring your class to the museum for any of our four programs or have us come to you! (Restrictions may apply) The museum's Heritage Education program is NC Curriculum-based and can be adapted for groups K-5. Each program lasts 30-45 minutes, and both can be done in a single morning or afternoon visit to the museum. From February 2011-February 2012, our programs are FREE (some restrictions apply, please call for more information). We can even bring the Colonial Quilt Program, Jr. Curator Native American Program, Mill Life Program, and Civil War Soldier Jr. Curator Program to you! For more information or to plan your class visit, call (919) 732-2201.

Current Available Programs:

Jr. Curator Native American Artifact Program: Learn about Native Americans of Orange County and get to experience their life first hand! The participants dress up as Junior Curators and get to handle reproduction Native American artifacts.

Colonial Quilt Program: Learn about the Colonial Life in Orange County and the importance of quilt making. The participants learn basic geometry and get to create their own quilt square by using fabric, glue and cardstock.

Civil War Soldier Jr. Curator Program: Teaches about the life of a soldier in the Civil War. The participants dress up as Junior Curators and get to handle reproduction Civil War soldier artifacts.

Life as a Mill Work Program: This program talks about Mills in Orange County in the late 1800s. The students then participate on an assembly line.

The museum program is part of Teaching with Hillsborough's Historic Sites, done in conjunction with the Burwell School Historic Site and the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. For information on planning a trip to multiple sites in Hillsborough, please call the Program Coordinator of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough at (919) 732-7741.

Traveling Trunks
The Traveling Trunks program allows teachers and group leaders to get hands-on activities and specially designed lesson plans in their classrooms. The Traveling Trunks are also ideal for scout groups, churches, and after-school programs. Rent one of the Traveling Trunks for two weeks at a cost of $25. Trunk can picked up or delivered to you. To rent a Trunk or for more information, call or e-mail the museum.

The Conflict: War and Peace trunk teaches middle school students about the meaning and impact of war on North Carolina. The trunk activities use maps, games, costumes, music, and lessons to relate North Carolina's experiences in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II. The Conflict: War and Peace trunk was developed in accordance with 7th and 8th grade North Carolina Curriculum Standards.

The Daily Life trunk teaches children about everyday life in pre-settlement Native American cultures and Colonial America.The Daily Life trunk was developed in accordance with 4th grade North Carolina Curriculum Standards.

The Life as a Mill Worker trunk details the textile mill villages of Hillsborough. The Life as a Mill Worker trunk was developed in accordance with 4th grade North Carolina Curriculum Standards.

Family Fun Scavenger Hunts
During your next visit to the Orange County Historical Museum, ask at the desk to receive a scavenger hunt activity for your child. The scavenger hunts encourage children to look carefully at the exhibits and help develop their interest in history. They also keep the kids engaged and quiet while you are reading! At the end of their visit, children can bring their completed forms to the desk for a prize. There is no charge for scavenger hunts, but a $1.00 donation is appreciated.

Download and print the Lets Eat! Scavenger Hunt

Download and print the Tool Time Scavenger Hunt

Download and print the Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

Orange County Historical Museum's Virtual Museum Tour
Click here to visit the Museum's Virtual Tour.

Special Exhibits at Your Site
The museum offers several small exhibits on local history topics that can be lent for display at your site. Please contact us at (919) 732-2201 for more information.