2023 School Program Information

The Fort Bend Museum is rooted in preservation and storytelling. Education is central to our mission, and we have developed a program that creates a connection between Fort Bend County children and history through historically accurate, immersive experiences. We support educators through TEKS aligned hands-on learning opportunities. ​
Planning For Your Field Trip 
We are thrilled that you chose the Fort Bend Museum for your class’s field trip and have included helpful information to assist you with planning. 

Reservations 
Follow these steps to streamline your booking process: 
  1. Review our program options by clicking HERE.
  2. Select the rotation schedule that accommodates your timeline by clicking HERE. 
  3. Complete the field trip request form by clicking HERE.
 
Requests must be made at least four weeks (30 days) in advance. The Education Coordinator will contact you within three business days to confirm your date. Deposit is due one week after confirmation. Teachers are required to provide a list of chaperone names along with the final student count one week prior to the visit. Chaperone admission is due upon arrival at the Visitors Services desk.  Online regular admission tickets and Groupon promotions can not be applied toward chaperone admission.
 
Payment, Cancellations, and Rescheduling 
Payment must be made in full one week prior to your visit. Your reservation is subject to cancellation if payment is not received by the deadline. The Museum is not responsible for lost or missing payments. 
  • Accepted forms of payment include checks, money orders, and all major credit cards. Call 281-342-6478 to make payments over the phone. 
  • Please make checks/money orders payable to: Fort Bend Museum, include your invoice number and field trip date. 
  • Payments can be mailed to:   
Fort Bend Museum 
Attention: Education Coordinator 
410 S. 5th Street
Richmond, TX 77469 
Refunds 
Fort Bend Museum does not provide day of arrival adjustments or refunds. All sales are final. Groups with fewer students than reserved will receive one child general admission ticket for each student that is paid for but is not in attendance. Refunds will only be made in the extreme case that the museum is unable to accommodate your group and rescheduling is not an option. 

Cancellations and Rescheduling     
For changes to your booking including rescheduling, attendance numbers, cancellations, or general questions please email the Education Coordinator at education@fortbendmuseum.org or call 281-342-6478. 
*Attendance changes can be made up to one week prior to your visit. 

Museum Etiquette  
To ensure the museum is a safe place for all visitors and our collections are protected, students and educators must adhere to the following guidelines: 
  • Use an inside voice in the museum and historic homes. 
  • Keep a safe distance from artifacts, furniture, photographs, and walls. Oil from our skin can damage artifacts. Hands-on learning takes place in specific areas with a guide. 
  • Students are not permitted to climb on fences, buildings, or trees, walk in flower beds, or run in any buildings. 
  • Cell phones must be silenced throughout all programming. 
  • Food, drink, candy, or gum are not allowed in any of the historic buildings. 
  • Photographs may be taken with the flash off. 
  • Recording of any kind is not permitted. 
  • Keep your hands and feet to yourself. 
  • Be respectful to museum staff, volunteers, docents, and visitors which includes not talking when a guide is speaking. 
  • Dismissal from field trip may not take place inside the museum. Students must be taken off museum property to be dismissed. 
  • A chaperone must be with students at all times, including the restrooms.  
Educators and chaperones are responsible for the behavior of their students during their museum visit. The Fort Bend Museum reserves the right to ask any group who does not follow museum etiquette to leave without a refund.   

Chaperones 
We strive to provide an engaging, memorable learning experience for everyone including our chaperones. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior and safety of their group throughout the entire visit. We are thankful you are joining us and ask you to follow these guidelines: 
  • Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age. 
  • ​Always remain with your group including to the restroom and during lunch. 
  • Food delivery and outside food is not allowed. (Sack lunches brought from school/home are allowed) 
  • ​Avoid side conversations as it distracts from programming. 
  • Siblings are not permitted. 
  • ​Encourage students to follow museum etiquette. 
  • Please do not wander through the homes and refrain from touching/handling any items not in program areas.
  • ​​Cell phones must be silenced throughout all programming.

​Thank you for your participation! We hope you enjoy your museum experience.  

Inclement Weather and Late Arrival 
In the event of inclement weather, museum staff may need to reschedule your visit. We closely monitor weather reports and make our decision by noon the day before your scheduled field trip. Inclement weather for museum purposes is defined as: physically severe or stormy. This makes traveling unsafe and the water and inevitable mud are undesirable in the historic homes. If rescheduling is not an option, a refund will be issued.  

If your group arrives late for a guided program, that program will be shortened and will finish at the originally designated time. Guided programs will be cancelled for groups that arrive 20+ minutes late.  No refund will be given.

Title 1 Schools 
Admission is FREE for Title 1 schools thanks to a generous donor. The field trip request form needs to be submitted in addition to a refundable $60 deposit to reserve the date. Program add-ons are not included with the free admission.  

Accessibility 
Handicap parking is available near the 5th Street (main) entrance of the museum. The museum exhibit space is wheelchair accessible and handicap accessible restrooms are available. The Long-Smith Cottage and the Moore Mansion have some uneven surfaces, so use caution when moving through the historic homes. The second floor of the Moore Mansion is not wheelchair/walker accessible. Starting September 16, digital text and audio Spanish translations of the permanent exhibit gallery will be available via tablets/headphones.
Funding has been provided to the Fort Bend History Association and Fort Bend Museum from Humanities Texas and the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.