For Schools & Educators

West Overton Village offers hands-on, educational field trips for groups of all ages, including schools, homeschool groups, scouts, and more. Explore the history of 19th century agriculture and industry through stories of West Overton’s families, workers, and businesses. Our field trip programs are designed to expand upon young learners’ studies of history and STEM subjects.

A field trip to West Overton Village includes a tour of the 1838 Overholt Homestead, a tour of the Museum, and a selection of DIY History Activities, along with an optional tour of the Educational Distillery.

Field trips are available May 1 - October 31. Please contact us for more information and to plan your custom experience.
 

Tour the Overholt Homestead 

Take a guided tour of the original home of the Overholt family built in 1838. Explore rooms that tell stories of the Overholts, their daily lives, and business activities. See the desk where Abraham Overholt oversaw village operations. Learn about members of Overholt and Frick families, including the famous industrialist Henry Clay Frick, through portraits and personal artifacts on display in the home. Discover the early history of Westmoreland County in the Mural Room installed by Helen Clay Frick in 1928.
 

Tour the Museum

Take a guided tour of our Museum’s latest exhibit, Forging Ahead and Falling Behind: Industrial Growth in a Rural Community. This exhibit explores the variety of jobs villagers at West Overton performed. Farmers, weavers, housekeepers, coal miners, and more all made West Overton a bustling, productive community. Through artifacts and stories from the past, students will learn how workers contributed to West Overton’s success while facing challenges that came with expanding industries and new technologies. 

DIY History Activities

Explore the past with hands-on activities and demonstrations that reflect the daily lives of people at West Overton. Learn how villagers used their skills and knowledge to operate farms, businesses, and households. Led by our experienced educators, DIY History Activities engage young learners’ senses and motor skills.

The availability of DIY History Activities varies according to age group, time of year, and personnel. Please discuss your interests with Co-Executive Director, Aaron Hollis, at aaron@westovertonvillage.org

• 19th century games and toys
• “Labor of Laundry” - historic laundering from 1800-1950
• Butter churning and tasting
• Melt and pour soap making
• Candle dipping and lighting technology from 1700s-present
• Sauerkraut shredding, food fermentation and preservation 
• 19th century cooking and baking in the Summer Kitchen
• Lead ball casting
• Corn fodder chopping
• Hand weaving 
• Rope making 

Educational Distillery 

Take a guided tour of our Educational Distillery and enjoy a 20-minute program about fermentation and distillation of grains as a means of food preservation. Please discuss your interest in this opportunity with Co-Executive Director, Aaron Hollis, at aaron@westovertonvillage.org.

Field Trip Procedures 

• Field trips are available May 1 - October 31.
• There should be 1 adult chaperone for every 8 children. Chaperones will be admitted to the Museum free of change. Any additional adults will be charged the regular admission rate.
• Groups are welcome to bring bagged lunches. The Overholt Room, our indoor venue, can seat up to 120. Contact us for larger group options. We also invite you to enjoy a picnic lunch on the Homestead lawn, weather permitting. 
• Groups should dress appropriately for the weather and scheduled activities. 
• Please contact us with any questions and concerns regarding accessibility accommodations.
• While many of our activities are hands-on, visitors should not touch artifacts unless staff of West Overton Village invite them to do so. This protects the artifacts in our care as well as our visitors.

Contact Us

Please contact Co-Executive Director Aaron Hollis at aaron@westovertonvillage.org or fill out this form to request your field trip. Completing this form requests a field trip, but does not confirm your group’s visit. Our team will reply to your request as soon as possible.