A word from the Elementary Education Coordinator

Mary Marino

Elementary Education is an important and exciting component of the Museum’s programs. After visiting the Museum exhibits, students share the every day living experiences of early Benicians through “hands-on” activities. These include adobe brick making, corn grinding, and steer roping and even doing the family laundry—all by hand! We welcome students, teachers and chaperones for these informative and fun activities and you can complete your visit with a picnic in our beautiful garden!

Mary Marino
Elementary Education Coordinator

Museum tours		Traveling trunks
		The Native American Traveling Trunk The Trunk includes items featuring the Native Patwins as well as materials on other tribes in central California The unit satisfies the California State Guidelines for Social Studies This HANDS-ON teaching unit was created by teachers for student and youth groups of all ages. Use our laminated pictures and detailed lesson plans to create your own village with the people, housing, and activities of daily life. Role-play or interact directly with over 40 authentic or replicated artifacts. Our Teacher’s Manual contains seven lesson plans with stories, puzzles, and activities to challenge and enrich the learning experience. Play Native American games, make grass cording, listen to stories, dance and play music by the famous Yahi Indian, Ishi, and learn to weave baskets by watching a video. California Mission Traveling Trunk The Mission trunk includes historical facts about the characteristics of the missions in California, beautiful watercolor pictures of the twenty-one missions and the history of their founding. Included in the lessons you will find: Mission architecture The history of the Spanish fan Clothing Music Dances Recipes for: Sopa de Albondigas Tortillas Pastelitos de boda Chocolate Español Artifacts such as: Pieces of authentic adobe clay Wooden crosses Candles Spanish dolls Maps.
	The Benicia Historical Museum offers educational tours of the Camel Barn Complex. Docent tours start at the Museum, which recounts the history of the City of Benicia and the Benicia Arsenal, first Military Arsenal of the West Coast. The tour continues to the Powder Magazine, built in 1857 from native sandstone by French stonemasons. The magazine houses a military exhibit and it is a unique experience to read the rules that once governed the Magazine. In Silas Casey Hall, the newly opened Industrial Exhibit gives a look into the industries, businesses and agricultural life in Benicia and Solano County. The bow of the Galilee, Matthew Turner’s faster ship, is seen behind Casey Hall, over one hundred years after it was built. To complete the tour, students, teachers and chaperones will do the “hands-on” activities that were natural living experiences in the 1800s. Participate and Enjoy!



To schedule a tour please print and complete this form and mail it with your deposit of $25 to the Museum. For on-line applications fill the form to schedule a tour and submit it. Make your deposit using the PayPal button. Printable directions for Hands on activities.		To schedule a rental please complete print and complete one of these forms: Native American Trunk or California Missions Trunk and mail it with your deposit of $20 to the Museum. or for on-line rentals, fill the form and submit it. Make your deposit using the PayPal button.