Thousands of area school children from around West Michigan take a thrilling step back in time and relive the hardscrabble existence of their intrepid ancestors in a stimulating, immersive, hands-on experience.  History in Action Days are educational and fun-filled days, providing students with a chance to encounter our pioneer past.  Visitors may meet a blacksmith as he fires up his forge, view cooking in the farmhouse kitchen, glimpse historic good being sold in the old General Store, watch candles being made, learn about earlier medical remedies in the Doctor’s office, climb aboard an authentic turn-of-the-century steam locomotive, and behold a sawmill cutting logs into lumber.  Mini-school sessions are held throughout the day in an authentic 1898, One Room School.  Students and their chaperones have an opportunity to talk with interpreters at most of the 30 sites as they share their own insight into village life.

Thursdays, May 10, 17, 24, 31st & June 7th

Fall HIA Days: Thursdays October 4, 9, & 11th

Admission Fees - Students & Chaperones: $6, Teachers: Free

School Tour Group Form

Each spring we have hundreds of students attend our One Room School Experience. The One Room School Experience provides an actual day of school for individual classrooms in our Marchido School, which is an original one-room school from Mason County, built in 1895. Students attending actually study lessons, read from the McGuffey’s Reader and experience recess, as it would have happened over one hundred years ago. We provide an abundance of materials and support, as well as an on-site assistant, and the teacher is free to cater the program to their classroom. We also provide a short artisan demonstration and a partial tour of the village. Students normally arrive around 10:00 A.M., and leave at 2:30 P.M.. Scheduling for these days is done on an individual classroom basis, so please call for details.

Admission Fees – Students & Chaperones: $6, Teachers: Free