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School Tours

For an illuminating experience schedule a group tour of Hearthstone Historic House Museum. Hearthstone is an 1882 Victorian landmark in Appleton, WI. It is the first home in the world lit by a hydroelectric central station based on Thomas Edison’s system. Students will see original Edison light switches and electroliers still in operation, learn about life in the late 19th Century and be able to explore our hands-on Hydro-Adventure Center.

Tour Hours

School Groups may tour Hearthstone Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Tours take one hour, including time to visit the self-guided hands-on Hydro-Adventure center.

Scheduling at a Glance

Tours must be scheduled at least four (4) weeks in advance - call Hearthstone and schedule your tour, please have contact information and a rough estimate of the number of individuals expected.

Please call with your final count of students and adults one week before your tour

Full payment is expected at the end of your tour, this includes all students and adult chaperones. Please have one payment for all members of your tour. If prepayment is preferred we will not refund money for absent students. We will give you free passes for absent students to use. We accept checks and cash.

Tour Size

Maximum tour size is 45 individuals. Alternating shifts may be used to accommodate larger groups.

Use and Accessibility

Hearthstone is a museum. For the protection of the artifacts no food, drink, photography or recording devices are allowed. The historic character of the house limits accessibility. Guests will need to climb stairs to enter the house and to access all three floors inside. Arrangements may be made in advance to use the single occupant lift to access the lower and first floor. Reading material and photographs of the second floor are available.

Cost:

Under 15 individuals: Regular $6 per adult Regular $3 per child (5-17)

Christmas $7 per adult Christmas $4 per child (5-17)

Over 15 individuals: Regular $5 per adult Regular $2.50 per child (5-17)

Christmas $6 per adult Christmas $3.50 per child (5-17)

Parking Facilities

Buses may not pull into or park in Hearthstone’s driveway. Passengers will be met at the bus with instructions on disembarking and entering the museum. The bus may park on one of the side streets. Parking is not available on Prospect Avenue.

Car and van parking is very limited. Cars and vans may park in the front or rear parking areas of Hearthstone or in the grass off to the side of the driveway. Please do not block the driveway. Additional parking is available less than one block away on State Street.

Discovery Trunks

Hearthstone Discovery Trunks are available to classrooms at no charge; however, we do ask for a $15 deposit refundable when the trunk is returned in good condition. Use the trunk before or after a visit to Hearthstone for a full immersion in history. Other groups (libraries, summer programs and youth groups) may reserve a trunk, if available, for $20. Trunks should be reserved at least one month in advance. Trunks may be checked out for two weeks per classroom. Trunks may be picked up at and returned to Hearthstone Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Victorian Life Trunks were developed with the 2nd grade curriculum in mind. While learning about their community’s history children have an opportunity to see what life was like for a child at the dawn of the electrical age. Children are invited to interact with objects from the past. Objects include kitchen and household items, toys and games, books, photographs and Teachers’ Reference materials. With these items you can go beyond book learning and experience history. Additional resources include recipes for Victorian meals, instructions for crafts and toys, and games requiring little more than imagination.

Dawn of the Electrical Age Trunks complement the study of science and history. Biographical resources on Thomas Edison explain the importance of the scientific method in his inventive process. Other artifacts place Edison and his inventions in historical context. After investigating Edison, children can trace the evolution of Edison’s inventions; the phonograph, the moving picture and of course electrical systems, using reproductions in the trunk. Instructions for experiments provide even more opportunities for students to experience history.

Teachers can select artifacts, demonstrations and experiments to fit their needs.

Please call Hearthstone with any questions or to reserve your trunk 920-730-8204.

Trunks funded by Bemis Companies of Wisconsin and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Contact Us:

920-730-8204 (phone)

920-730-8266 (fax)

hearthdirector@att.net

Hearthstone Historic House Museum

625 W. Prospect

Appleton, WI

54911

920-730-8204

© 2010 Hearthstone House Museum