Plan your field trip

The Bullock’s field trip program explores history, the arts, science, and more in our fully bilingual galleries. Easily find connections to the TEKS in exhibitions and films to make learning come alive. Start here to find the information you need to begin planning your trip.

Several regional scholarships are available to help cover the cost of transportation, film tickets, and lunches. Fill out the field trip reservation form and indicate you are interested in a scholarship for your class. An Education team member will reach out with more details on how you may qualify and what costs are covered.

Visitor information

Review information about hours, directions, accessibility, policies, and more.

Exhibits

See what’s on view this school year and learn more about the Bullock’s three floors of exhibit galleries featuring ever-changing artifacts, immersive multimedia, and thousands of years of Texas history.

Films

Make your visit truly interdisciplinary with a documentary in the IMAX® Theatre. Student and Educator Guides are available for most films to supplement your group’s experience.

In the multisensory Texas Spirit Theater, watch as Texas history comes alive in The Star of Destiny and Shipwrecked. 

A woman looking at a small open trunk that has a book and other objects in it.
Preview the Bullock before your field trip

Use an Educator Preview Visit to test lesson plans, scope out the current exhibits, and see film options before your trip. Current K-12 educators who live in Texas can show their school ID badge at the ticketing counter and request an Educator Preview Visit to receive waived exhibit admission and tickets to Texas Spirit Theater films and IMAX documentaries.

After your visit, Museum Educators will provide personalized support to help you plan your field trip and find classroom resources.

Normal fees apply for any guests without a teacher identification card. Educator Preview Visit admission is subject to availability.

Make the most of your visit

Have lunch, see what’s available in the Museum Store, and find the resources you need to engage your students in the exhibit galleries.

Take a break from exploring the exhibitions or drop in for a tasty breakfast or lunch at The Star Cafe, located on the Bullock Museum’s second floor. Museum admission is not required to visit the Cafe.

Help students find the perfect souvenir from their trip in the Bullock Museum Store, located on the first floor. Sign up for the educator rewards program to earn 10% from student purchases.

Enhance classroom learning with programs, resources, and exploration that bring Texas history to life for your students.

Making a reservation

Reservations for the 2025–2026 school year are open. Consider planning a trip to the Museum in the fall, as schedules fill quickly in the spring. 

Arrival timing

Field Trip arrival time slots are offered on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A three-hour visitation window offers the best experience. The Bullock’s Education team can help you plan the most effective use of your time based on your goals.

Chaperone guidelines

One chaperone for every 10 students is recommended. To ensure that your group’s chaperones will be able to participate in all of the field trip activities, please include them in your final count when making your reservation. Chaperones will wear a lanyard to designate them as responsible adults.

Parking

There is no parking available at the Museum for buses, RVs, and other large vehicles. Buses will need to leave the Capitol Complex after drop-off. Your bus driver must stay with the vehicle at all times and will not be able to serve as a chaperone or lead field trip contact.

Required information

When making a reservation, please have the following:

School/organization name, contact information, district, and grade level

Lead contact’s name, phone number, and email address

Preferred/alternate dates and arrival times

Estimated number of students/youth, teachers, and chaperones

Special accommodations needed

Field trip rates

Field trip rates require a minimum of 10 students and youths in your group, and reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Interested in making a reservation for an adult group?

Pre-scheduled school field trip rates

Public schools, private schools, charter schools, and homeschool organizations

CategoryExhibitions — 3 floors
30 mins/floorIMAX Theatre
45 minsTexas Spirit Theater
15–30 minsStudentFREE$6$4TeacherFREE$7$5Chaperone$15$9$6

Pre-scheduled youth field trip rates

Daycares, educational organizations, tour groups, and camps

CategoryExhibitions — 3 floors
30 mins/floorIMAX Theatre
45 minsTexas Spirit Theater
15–30 mins17 and Under Youth$9$6$418 and Older Adult$15$9$6

Scholarships

The Story of Texas Film Scholarship is available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualifying groups demonstrating need. Our scholarship coordinator will assist with the application process after you complete the field trip reservation form and indicate interest in the scholarship. Scholarships are currently available for Texas Spirit Theater films and IMAX documentary films.

Additional regional scholarships are available for the following counties/districts: Brooks, Kenedy, Maverick, Zavala, Mason, San Saba, Llano, Midland ISD, and the greater Houston area.

Support

Houston area field trip scholarships are supported by The John M. O’Quinn Foundation Fund.

Central Texas Scholarships are available to students from Title 1 classrooms in Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Coryell, Fayette, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Lee, Mason, McLennan, Medina, Real, Travis, Uvalde, and Williamson Counties.

Central Texas field trips scholarships are funded by Featured Sponsor John Nau, Contributing Sponsor Nelson Puett Foundation, and other generous donors.

San Antonio field trip scholarships are supported by The Mirza Trust of San Antonio.

Upcoming student events

Mar
27

Mar
13

Can’t make it to the Bullock?

Bring the Museum to your classroom through live online programs, interactive online exhibits, and educator resources.

Connect with a Museum Educator through live, free, interactive virtual classes direct from the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Explore the stories of Texas through a gallery of artifacts, interactive experiences, and online exhibits that bring the Bullock Museum to you.

Explore activity guides, curriculum tools, professional development opportunities, and more to take a deeper dive into Texas history. Many of these tools can be used in your classroom or can be paired with a visit to the Museum to help enhance the learning experience.

FAQs

What to expect

Watch this video to learn how to have a successful field trip at the Bullock Museum. When planning your trip, we suggest dedicating three hours so you will have plenty of time to see the exhibits, eat lunch, and even watch one of our amazing films in the IMAX Theatre or Texas Spirit Theater. On average students spend about 30 minutes on each floor, and our films range from 20–45 minutes.

Use an Educator Preview Visit* to test lesson plans, scope out the current exhibits, and see film options before your trip. Current K-12 educators who live in Texas can show their school ID badge at the ticketing counter and request an Educator Preview Visit to receive waived Museum admission and tickets to Texas Spirit Theater films and IMAX documentaries. After the visit, receive communication from Museum Educators for personalized support in finding classroom resources and planning field trips.

*Normal fees apply for any guests without a teacher identification card. Educator Preview Visit admission is subject to availability.

Chaperones

We recommend having one chaperone for every 10 students to ensure a safe and enriching experience. Chaperones can either be parents or individuals selected by the school who are volunteering to be the responsible adult for a group of students. Chaperone exhibit tickets are offered at a discounted price of $15 each. Parents who are attending a field trip but not volunteering will need to purchase a full price adult ticket. Schools have the option to cover the cost of chaperone tickets or allow chaperones to pay for their own tickets.

Chaperones, whether they are parents or school-appointed individuals, must adhere to the same guidelines and responsibilities, including facilitating the students’ educational experience and correcting behavior during the visit.

Transportation

We have two bus zones and staff ready to help you as soon as you arrive. Please see our bus loading zone map for directions to the Museum. Please note there is no bus parking near the Museum; the bus driver should leave the Capitol Complex after drop-off is finished.

When planning your trip it is important to note your bus driver must stay with the vehicle at all times and will not be able to serve as the lead field trip contact or a chaperone during the Museum field trip. Contact us at Reservations@thestoryoftexas.com if you have questions or need more information.

Lunches

Order lunch from The Star Cafe in advance, or bring bagged lunches with you. Lunch storage is offered on a first-come, first-served basis for group visits. When you are ready to eat, head outside to one of our various lunch time locations and enjoy your food picnic style.

Activities

Check out our curated, self-guided student activity guides that can help your students connect to the artifacts during the visit. We have activities that are appropriate for students of varying ages and interests.

Enhance your field trip by connecting to the Museum in advance. Explore our on-demand classroom resources and curriculum tools that provide supplemental information for you and your students. Sign up for a Distance Learning class with one of our Museum Educators. These virtual lessons deliver high-quality, TEKS-aligned content that engages your students with history, language arts and social studies topics.

Special student days

Consider planning your field trip during one of the Bullock Museum’s engaging student programs:

American Indian Heritage Day | Friday, September 25, 2026
This annual event celebrating the Indigenous cultures of Texas is held on the last Friday in September. This special day features hands-on activities and dancing and drumming performances at the Museum, as well as on-demand digital resources that you can use to celebrate virtually at home or at school.

 

STEAM Lab
2025–2026 Dates: November 12, January 21, April 29, June 11
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Explore how scientific discoveries have influenced history. See our Museum Educators and local STEAM experts demonstrate the workings of nature and participate in hands-on activities and experiments.

 

Homeschool Days
2025–2026 Dates: October 10, December 5, February 6, March 27
Four times a year, homeschool families take part in free days reserved just for them, full of hands-on learning activities, special programs, and discounted rates for IMAX Theatre and Texas Spirit Theater films.

Do you have artifacts about…?

Our Texas History Galleries tell the chronological story of Texas, but the artifacts we use to tell this story are always changing. If your class is learning about a specific topic and you’re curious if the Bullock Museum has related materials, feel free to contact a Museum Educator at Education@thestoryoftexas.com. Our team is here to assist with any inquiries. Additionally, explore our curated online artifact gallery to see a selection of artifacts currently on view in the Museum.

What is the Educator Rewards Program?

Educators who shop at the Museum Store earn points toward the purchase of classroom supplies, educational materials, and classroom-friendly decorative items. During a field trip, students must mention their teacher’s name and school at checkout to ensure that their purchase will contribute to their teacher’s Educator Rewards Program account.

Reward points accrue at a rate of $0.10 (10%) for every $1 spent. Sale items will not accrue rewards but may be purchased using reward points. Additional discounts may not be used in combination with reward points. Only educational products may be purchased with reward points.

School Programs are generously funded by The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation.

Ready to book your field trip?

Museum Educators are ready to help you plan your ultimate field trip experience! For questions, please contact us at Reservations@thestoryoftexas.com or call the Teacher Hotline at (512) 463-6712.