A visiting class poses in front of the museum's red-and-yellow Southern caboose

Grades 3 • 4 • 5

Your North Alabama One-Stop Field Trip.

Aligned to the Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies — with a different tour for every grade, so your students never see a repeat.

Book a field trip Teacher downloads

Students explore the Railroad Room with a museum guide

A class discovers the Cargo Room beneath the flags of Alabama's history

Real field trips at the depot — this could be your class.

Grade 3 — Geography & Settlement

Alabama's land regions & rivers on our giant topographic map
Native American artifacts & prehistoric culture periods
Explorers & early settlement — De Soto to the French at Mobile
Map skills in action: legend, scale, latitude & longitude
State symbols, parks & landmarks

Different tour every year.

Grade 4 — Colonies to 1900

“Trails to rails”: Indian trails, the Federal Road, then the railroad
The Creek War, “Alabama Fever,” and 1819 statehood
Cotton, trades & everyday life in 1800s Alabama
Civil War & Reconstruction timeline stations
The best artifact of all: an actual 1868 depot

Different tour every year.

Grade 5 — Twentieth Century to Present

Out of cotton, into the mills: turn-of-the-century industry
The world wars, nearby Fort McClellan & real rationing stamps
The civil rights trail: Montgomery, Anniston, Birmingham, Selma
TVA & the Space Race at Redstone Arsenal
Songs of Alabama — 80+ songs that mention our state

Different tour every year.

Or choose the Overall Alabama History Experience — earliest displays to today. Great for mixed grades, homeschool co-ops, and GT groups.

Simple by design

How a Visit Works

1Book your date
2We customize videos, kiosks & trunk to your grade
360-minute small-group rotation
4Certificates & free return tickets

Small groups

Suggested 10–12 per historic room so every child can see and hear.

$5 max admission

Student admission is never more than $5. Options itemized when you book.

Lunch made easy

Handicap-accessible outdoor deck; local meal options can be arranged.

ADA accessible

Every area accommodates a wheelchair, including the caboose and deck.

Every student takes one home

The Junior Alabama Historian Program

Students who complete their grade’s museum tour, scavenger hunt, and vocabulary review earn a grade-level certificate from the Piedmont Historical Society. Visit in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade to collect all three titles.

Junior Alabama Historian certificate — Grade 3, Community Explorer — Grade 3 — Community Explorer

Junior Alabama Historian certificate — Grade 4, Alabama History Scholar — Grade 4 — Alabama History Scholar

Junior Alabama Historian certificate — Grade 5, Alabama Heritage Ambassador — Grade 5 — Alabama Heritage Ambassador

Ready to print

Helpful Downloads for Teachers

Teacher's Field Trip Guide

Download PDF →

Grade 3 Scavenger Hunt Guide

Download PDF →

Grade 4 Scavenger Hunt Guide

Download PDF →

Grade 5 Scavenger Hunt Guide

Download PDF →

Grade-level activity packets (word searches, vocabulary matching, crosswords) are also available — contact us and we’ll send them over.

Let's set your date

Request Your Field Trip

Tell us your grade, class size, and preferred dates — we’ll build your rotation and confirm by email. Admission is never more than $5 per student.