Field Trip Spotlight: Fort Walla Walla Museum
Some of the best days in homeschooling don’t happen around the kitchen table. They happen when your kids step out into the world—and discover that learning is everywhere.
If you’re looking for an educational adventure right here in the valley, Fort Walla Walla Museum is a must-visit. This homeschool field trip is more than just a walk through history—it’s a chance for your kids to experience it firsthand.
Whether you're just getting started with homeschooling in Walla Walla or you're a seasoned pro looking for fresh ideas, this guide will help you plan a meaningful visit to one of our community’s most beloved educational landmarks.
What to Expect at Fort Walla Walla Museum
Located on the west side of Walla Walla, Fort Walla Walla Museum offers a fully immersive historical experience that’s ideal for homeschool families. The museum features over 50,000 artifacts and a living-history pioneer village filled with original 19th-century buildings.
Key Highlights:
Pioneer Village with authentic cabins, a schoolhouse, and blacksmith shop
Permanent exhibits covering the history of Walla Walla Valley, Native cultures, and westward expansion
Collections of farming tools, military gear, covered wagons, and early medical equipment
Special seasonal events with live demonstrations, costumed interpreters, and interactive displays
This museum isn’t just about observing—it’s about stepping into the past and asking questions that bring history to life.
Learning Opportunities for Homeschooling Families
Homeschooling opens the door to flexible, real-world learning—and Fort Walla Walla is the perfect place to take advantage of that freedom.
Connect Curriculum to Real Life:
History and Social Studies
Explore themes like the Oregon Trail, homesteading, Indigenous history, and frontier life in the Pacific Northwest.
Language Arts
Use your visit as inspiration for journaling, creative writing, or historical fiction.
Science and Critical Thinking
Discuss early agriculture, medicine, and engineering. Encourage observation and compare how tools and practices have changed over time.
Art and Creativity
Bring sketchbooks to draw artifacts, buildings, or people from the past. Have students create their own dioramas or models at home based on what they saw.
This is an ideal homeschool field trip for students of all ages, offering cross-subject learning that’s fun, memorable, and deeply engaging.
Planning Your Homeschool Field Trip
Location and Hours:
Address: 755 NE Myra Rd, Walla Walla, WA
Website: fortwallawallamuseum.org
Admission:
Fort Walla Walla offers affordable pricing, and many homeschool families qualify for group rates. Check the website or call ahead to ask about discounts.
Tips for Homeschoolers:
Visit on weekday mornings for fewer crowds and more space to explore
Bring notebooks or clipboards for writing and drawing
Pack snacks or lunch and enjoy the park inside of the fort for lunch
Encourage older children to ask questions—staff and docents are often full of extra knowledge and local stories
This trip is easy to plan and offers a big return in both learning and fun.
Fort Walla Walla Field Trip Journal
To help you get even more out of your visit, we’ve created a downloadable Fort Walla Walla Field Trip Journal. It’s designed specifically for homeschoolers and includes:
Space for sketching and observation notes
Reflection questions to deepen understanding
Writing prompts to inspire creativity and storytelling
This printable is a helpful tool for documentation, portfolios, and turning your homeschool field trip into a full learning experience.
Access the printable journal through the Homeschool Insiders membership. Also available for single purchase here in the download store.
Why Local Field Trips Matter in Homeschooling
One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling in Walla Walla is that we live in a place full of educational opportunities. Local field trips like this one allow children to connect with history, community, and real-world learning in a way that traditional classrooms often can't replicate.
You don’t need a big budget or a long drive to offer your kids meaningful, hands-on education. Sometimes, all you need is a museum tucked into the corner of your own town—and a little bit of curiosity.
Join Homeschool Insiders for More Local Learning
Looking for more homeschooling resources in Walla Walla? When you join our Homeschool Insiders membership, you’ll get:
Access to exclusive field trip guides and printable learning tools
Local homeschooling support and community
Weekly tips to help you homeschool with confidence
Have you visited Fort Walla Walla Museum on a homeschool field trip? Share your favorite part or your best tip in the comments—we’d love to hear about your experience!