Plan Your Visit
Please schedule your school visit at least two weeks in advance.
Admission
Students and classroom teachers participating in an organized classroom visit and/or program are admitted free of charge. For grades Pre-K through Second, one adult chaperone per five students is admitted for free. In grades 3-12, one adult chaperone per ten students is admitted for free. Additional adults are required to pay admission. Please inform us when registering if your group will require additional adult support.
$13.00 for adults
$11.00 for senior citizens and military service members
$10.00 for college students with ID
$7.00 for youth ages 6-18
Free for children under the age of 5
Free Parking is Available for all Museum Patrons
Hours
Field trips are offered Tuesday through Friday during the school year. Most programs for grades 3 and up run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If your group requires a different arrival or departure time, please discuss this when scheduling.
Advanced Preparation
Because the most successful museum visits are those where students and adults are well prepared, we offer you the following guidelines for your Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum class trip.
If at all possible, visit the Museum before bringing your students. Teachers preparing for classroom visits are admitted free of charge.
Prepare your students for the exhibits they will see through pre-visit activities and discussions. There is information and activities available on this website under the Resources tab.
If possible, have your students wear name tags during their visit.
Provide chaperones with instructions and goals prior to arrival.
Museum Etiquette
and Rules
As you know, museums have a variety of rules designed both for the safe-keeping of artifacts and documents on display, and to ensure a safe, enjoyable visit for all guests. We appreciate your help in seeing that your students follow these basic rules during your visit. Our goal is to do everything possible to see that your students, and our other guests, enjoy their Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum experience.
Please make sure your students do not bring food or beverages into the Museum. This includes all candy and gum.
Please remind students that they need to use care and not touch or lean on the displays. In this way, they can help us take good care of everything on display.
While we love to see enthusiastic students at the Museum, please remind your students that they must use indoor voices and refrain from running.
Please take as many photographs as you would like. There may be restrictions on photography in our special changing exhibits. Check with Museum staff for details.
Chaperones
For students in grades Pre-K through Second, one adult chaperone per five students is admitted for free. For students in Third Grade and above, one adult chaperone per ten students is admitted for free. Adult chaperones should be pre-approved through the school’s approval process for volunteers. Chaperones must remain with their group at all times while at the Museum and on the Museum grounds.
Chaperones are responsible for working with both the classroom teacher and our Foundation’s teachers to keep students organized and focused on their visit. Please give each chaperone specific information about your students’ Museum goals prior to arriving at the Museum.
We also ask that chaperones help students abide by the Museum’s rules, outlined above. Museum staff expects teachers and chaperones to maintain control and discipline of their groups at all times.
Directions
General driving directions are provided or please via google maps.
From the North: US 131 south to Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the South: US 131 north to Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the East: I-196 west to Ottawa Avenue exit. South on Ottawa to Pearl Street. West on Pearl to Museum entrance.
From the West: I-196 east to US 131 south / Pearl Street exit. East on Pearl to Museum entrance. (Bear to the right as you exit I-196 and the Pearl Street exit. You won’t actually merge onto US 131.)
Parking
Free bus parking is available on Scribner Street, directly to the west of the Museum, and in the Museum’s south parking lot.
Transportation
Thanks to the Secchia-Allen Bus Fund, visiting schools may qualify for transportation reimbursement. To download the application form, Bus Funding Form. For more information, contact: 616.254.0396 or avandervliet@38foundation.org.
Check-In Procedures
When you arrive at the Museum, one person should come in to our Admissions Desk to handle check-in. Please be prepared to give an exact count of students and adults – both teachers and chaperones. At this time you will be asked to pay our $10.00 per person admission fee for any adults over the suggested ratio for your grade level. We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards. Please let our admissions staff know if you need a receipt.
Museum Store
The Museum has a gift shop on site. We ask that only one group of no more than ten students be allowed in the store at a time and that students be accompanied by a teacher or chaperone.