Programs
Spark your students’ interest in the history of their hometown with help from The Tower Heritage Center. We offer several ways for you and your students to engage with the artifacts and stories of life in Washington County in earlier times.
Discovery Boxes
Let the Tower Heritage Center museum come to you! Discovery Boxes are interactive, in-class programs narrated by museum staff. They provide touchable artifacts and historical photographs delivered with an inquiry-based model of teaching. View a complete list of Discovery Boxes and rental fees.
Museum Field Trips
Visit exhibits chronicling the people, ideas and events of Washington County from the glaciers to the present day. In the 1889 Courthouse Museum, nine exhibit rooms are devoted to the Menominee and Potawatomi, immigrants, technology, the Homefront, and more, including our oldest artifact, the 100,000-year-old Trenton Meteorite. Tour the restored circuit courtroom on the second floor.
The 1886 Jailhouse Museum next door remains mostly unchanged from the early 1900s. See the eight-room cell block, and hear stories of life in the jailhouse for the sheriffs’ families.
Specialized Learning Experiences
The Tower Heritage Center also offers specialized learning experiences that generally support the state standards students are expected to achieve. Each experience includes an in-depth look at a particular exhibit, a mini-lesson, and culminates in an activity that brings the lessons to life. Please contact us to learn about specialized learning experiences for your school group.
Teen Academy
Hey, teens – want a job at the Washington County Historical Society? You can work with peers from all over Washington County while building professional skills. Apply now for our Teen Academy, an eight-day certificate program that will give you a behind-the-scenes look into the world of museums and historical societies. You’ll meet professional staff, conduct daily challenges, and complete a capstone project with teammates. Afterward, you’ll receive a $150 stipend and be eligible to apply for a paid apprenticeship in exhibits or outreach—a job you can keep until graduation!