For Teachers
The Capitol Education Service welcomes school groups of all ages. Guided tours start in our visitor’s center, Heritage Hall, and usually includes stops at the Capitol rotunda, Governor’s Office, Old Supreme Court, and the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers.
Capitol tours take about an hour and discuss Capitol history and architecture, state government, civic involvement, and the legislative process. Tours include visits to legislative sessions when possible.
We recommend school groups book a free guided tour with us for the best experience at your Capitol!
Call (517) 373-2353 to schedule.
How to Schedule Your Field Trip
We book tours up to one year in advance of the date of your call. Please be aware our tour schedule fills up quickly, especially between April and June.
We start scheduling every morning at 8:30am. Scheduling is on a first call, first serve basis. We schedule for both the Capitol and the self-guided tour of the Michigan History Museum.
Please know approximately how many students you’ll be booking for, what time you can make it into Lansing to begin your field trip, and what time you will need to be finished. We limit tours to 45 people maximum.
We generally schedule your groups for a 30 minute lunch. Lunches can be eaten either on the lawns of the Capitol, on the Capitol Complex, on your bus, or at the Michigan History Center’s public lunch room.
The Capitol tour is free of charge. There is an admission fee for the Michigan History Museum.
Field Trip Parking
Bus parking is available on the northbound side of Walnut Street, with a student drop off at the Heritage Hall entrance on 323 West Ottawa Street. There is also bus parking at the Michigan History Center. Bus parking is free of charge at both locations.
Car and van parking is available on the streets surrounding the Capitol, with parking closest to the entrance on Ottawa Street. There is also all day parking at the Michigan History Center at 702 West Kalamazoo Street.
Pay for car and van street parking at electronic pay stations with a card, coins, or through the Passport Parking App. You will need your license plate number and parking zone number.
Contact City of Lansing Parking Services with questions or concerns at (517) 483-4244.
Click map to enlarge
Videos
The Capitol regularly produces educational videos for students and visitors of all ages. Follow the link below to browse the Capitol’s video collection.
Michigan State Capitol Trailer
Student Orientation Video
Student Resources
The Capitol Tour, Education, and Information Service provides additional virtual programs to compliment what students learn about during their Capitol tour. These are 30 minutes programs designed to further your students’ understanding of the role of state government.
(Click the photos below to learn about each program!)
