Colonial Life, Aviation and Stories of Freedom

For a small state, Delaware offers field trip experiences that span centuries of history, cultural change and innovation.

Step into an 18th-century classroom in Historic Odessa or investigate the lives of enslaved and free people at John Dickinson Plantation. Military aviation history is on full display, where enormous aircraft invite students to explore, discover and learn in authentic settings. Wilmington offers opportunities to connect Delaware’s past with broader American stories of resistance, colonization, civil rights, and the fight for freedom, while dedicated student programs encourage active participation through hands-on discovery, inquiry and collaboration for memorable learning.

“Take the controls in an interactive flight simulator experience, where students learn firsthand the basics of takeoff and landing and how to read Dover Air Force Base traffic patterns.”

Looking for your next student travel destination? Start with the Student Travel Planning Guide.

Historic Odessa Foundation (Odessa)

At Historic Odessa, students can step into the 18th century for a fully immersive experience, where tailored workshops transform preserved homes and landscapes into interactive classrooms for K-12 groups. Students in grades K-2 can join 30-minute workshops, while older visitors can explore more complex issues and experiences. School Days introduce learners to quill pen writing, while the 18th Century Cooking Hearth lets them prepare period recipes. Discover the town’s connections to the Underground Railroad through explorations of routes and hiding places used by local abolitionists. Standards-aligned activities let students walk in the shoes of colonial residents as they investigate everyday life and the pursuit of freedom.

John Dickinson Plantation (Dover)

Educational tours at the John Dickinson Plantation take students on a journey through history, where they examine the experiences of the Dickinson family, tenants, free black residents, enslaved men, women and children, and tradespeople. The K-3 program, Then and Now, compares daily life and colonial childhood with the present; the Politics and Plantation program for grades 3-12 explores Dickinson’s world through the mansion and outbuildings; and A World Apart teaches about free and enslaved Black communities through storytelling and artifacts. Hands-on activities encourage students to examine how historians use primary and secondary evidence to interpret the site, while live demonstrations, like hearth cooking and weaving, showcase colonial skills in action.

Air Mobility Command Museum (Dover)

Historic military aircraft become the classroom when students stand beneath and step aboard authentic machines, immersing them in classroom subjects during a trip to the Air Mobility Command Museum. Witness the technology, science and stories behind aerial refueling and airlift through fascinating exhibits that provide natural connections to STEM, engineering, military history and technology. For visitors ages 10 and up, take the controls in an interactive flight simulator experience, where students learn firsthand the basics of takeoff and landing and how to read Dover Air Force Base traffic patterns.

Delaware History Museum and Mitchell Center for African American Heritage (Wilmington)

Explore Delaware history through fun role-playing opportunities, authentic artifacts, primary sources, and hands-on challenges at the Delaware History Museum and Mitchell Center for African American Heritage. Dedicated on-site student programming for K-8 groups provides enriching experiences that educators can tie to classroom objectives, while high school teachers can arrange customized visits. Explore the Lenape and Swedish cultures in the First Contact program for grades 3-5; Journey to Freedom with your 4-8 students and learn about freedom seekers, their resistance to slavery, and the risk of self-emancipation. Expand on the African American story at the Mitchell Center’s powerful Journey to Freedom exhibition, showcasing artifacts, real stories, oral histories, art, and music spanning 1639 to the present.

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