The Bown House tour is part of Boise School District’s 4th grade curriculum on Idaho history. Our costumed volunteers guide the children in experiencing the strictness of the schoolroom, churning butter and making biscuits, dressing up in period clothing, quilting a square, playing pioneer games, choosing which crops to plant and learning about survival on the Oregon Trail. There are six rooms, each with its own unique activity, which engage children in fun and memorable ways: the kitchen, school room, and parlor on the first floor and the farm room, geography room, and history newsroom on the second floor. Students move from room to room and spend about twenty minutes in each room. Students leave with a better appreciation and understanding of how difficult life was for Idaho’s early pioneers.

Please navigate the calendars below to sign up for a date that works for your school. All tours will start promptly at 10:00 am and end at noon. We have tried to remove dates that are not available due to bussing shortages, but please make sure you secure a bus immediately after selecting your date. You may sign up for up to 60 students on any given day. You should plan on about 2 1/2 hours for the bus on site, arriving by 9:45 to allow time to get organized,  with 2 hours of tour time, followed by a few minutes to get out the door.  Depending on the number of students and the number of docents available, you will be asked to divide students into 3 – 6 groups. We will send this information about grouping along with your desired material (student booklets and newspapers) in interschool mail approximately 1 month before your scheduled tour date. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Janet Tweedle or Megan Fuller at  bownhouse@alboise.org

Thanks again for all you do for our Fourth Grade students.

Sincerely,
The History in the Bown House team