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Social Studies and History Field Trips

Are you looking for field trip options on history and social studies topics? Here’s a list of historical places and venues that offer history and social studies field trips throughout Upstate, SC.

Want more field trip options? Don’t miss our Ultimate Guide to Field Trip and Enrichment Experiences in Greenville and Spartanburg.

Every Challenge Island® Field Trip is a HIGH ENERGY, HANDS-ON, Cross-Curricular STEAM Adventure featuring Project-Based Learning and 21st Century Skills. Our Award-Winning Curriculum is aligned with multiple Common Core, State, and Next Generation Science Standards, as well as Social Emotional Learning Standards. We have over 100 Challenge Destinations for you to choose from, and equates to a 1-1.5 hour In-School Field trip option for your students!

Our Field Trip Specialist will help you identify the Island experience that best fits your curricular goals. Your students will enjoy a spectacular STEAM vacation without ever leaving school grounds!

Anderson County Museum

864.260.4737 | 202 East Greenville Street, Anderson, SC

Book a tour with a docent or just explore the museum by yourself! Tours generally last an hour and are best for Kindergarten through Highschool, or homeschool groups.

Field Trips & School Programs: The South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson offers 45-60 minute school programs intended to support your curriculum and grade level. Fee is $5 per student.

Summer Camp Offers: The SC Botanical Garden at Clemson offers week-long summer camps in June and July for kids aged 6 – 12.
2024 Summer Camps in June and July
Mountains to Sea
Garden Discovery Camp
Creativity Camp
Creature Power Camp
Great Green Adventure Camp
Circleup! STEM Camp
Time Travelers Camp

Hagood Mill Historic Site

864.898.2936 | 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, SC

Education and Field Trips: Hagood Mill offers tours of the 176-year-old mill, the Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site, blacksmith shop, and moonshine still. Children may watch demonstrations by local artisans, participate in hands-on activities, and experience workshops. There are several field trip options including one-day or multi-day trips, traveling field trip shows, and virtual field trips.

Summer Camp Offers: Hagood Mill  may offer Camp Hagood as they have in the past. Awaiting information for 2024

Upcountry History Museum

864.467.3100 | 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC

Upcountry History Museum offers a variety of programs that consist of a visit to the History Lab and exploring the Exhibit.

• Age: K5 – 12th grade
• Subject: History
• Also offers homeschool programming monthly

Roper Mountain Science Center

864.355.8900 | 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, SC


KABOOM First Place

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites First Place: Educational Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites First Place: Field Trips



Located just minutes from downtown Greenville, Roper Mountain Science Center is one of the nation’s most unique learning experiences. As a pinnacle of innovative learning, an engine for community engagement, and a national leader in science education, Roper Mountain’s mission is to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.

The beautiful 62-acre campus contains an array of state-of-the-art educational facilities including a Planetarium and Observatory, Marine and Ecology labs, a Rainforest, a Living History Farm and a new Environmental Science and Sustainability Center.

Each year, more than 50,000 students, 6000 teachers and 30,000 families experience the latest in explorative STEM education through these interactive exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. Families can attend numerous events throughout the year including Friday Starry Nights, Afternoon Explorations, Summer Adventure, Laser Days of Summer, Summer Exploration Camps, and seasonal holiday laser shows. Regardless of age, Roper Mountain provides everyone the opportunity to explore, discover, imagine and grow.

Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum

864.346.4687 | 356 Field Street, Greenville, SC

Learn the history of Greenville’s own “Shoeless Joe Jackson” You will find artifacts of all sorts including photos, videos, and sports memorabilia that tell this baseball star’s story.

  • Age: All ages
  • Subjects: PE, history
  • Private tours can be arranged, open to the public only on Sundays during construction.

Lucky Acres Farm

864.287.2339 | 1024 Milford Road, Townville, SC

Lucky Acres Farm is a small family farm in Townville, SC featuring alpacas. Learn about alpacas and how the farm is run, including what products the alpaca fibers are used to create.

  • Age: All ages
  • Science, agriculture
  • The farm is also home to goats, horses and chickens.

Denver Downs

864.556.3394 | 1515 Denver Road, Anderson, SC

Denver Downs Farm, in Anderson (just off exit 19B), hosts weekday fall field trips full of fun and memorable experience on a real working farm. Trips last approximately 2 hours.

Field trips are $12 per person, and include a hand-picked pumpkin.

Spartanburg Historical Sites

864.596.3501

Spartanburg County Historical Association offers tours and living history activities at several historic sites one Friday per month.

  • Age: Programs are modified to serve the age group
  • Subject: Social Studies/History and English Language Arts
  • Sites include Walnut Grove Plantation and Seay House

BMW Zentrum Museum

1888.868.7269 | 1400 Highway 101 South, Greer, SC

Visit the Zentrum Museum and learn about the history of BMW and view examples of BMW’s vehicles throughout their history.

Zentrum museum hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Guided plant tours are available and students will have the chance to see how the cars are built.

  • Age: Plant Tours are limited to age 12 and up
  • Subject: Science and Engineering, History
  • Closed toe shoes must be worn on the plant tour

Carl Sandburg Home

828.693.4178 | 81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, NC

Tours and group reservations are currently limited in number, so please contact the farm before submitting a form to visit.
Carl Sandburg Home also offer online virtual lessons. These are not live presentations, but rather virtual lesson plans. Students can learn about the Sandburg family and the significance of Carl Sandburg’s writing. Here are the virtual lesson plans.

This historic estate of poet Carl Sandburg in nearby Flat Rock, NC offers a 1-2 hour educational tour for groups that include writing activities, house tour, and farm visits.

  • Age: Kindergarten through high school
  • Subject: Writing, poetry, language arts, history, social studies, science
  • Homeschool trips are also available.

The Biltmore

828.851.4661 | One Lodge Street, Asheville, NC

The Biltmore offers group tours for homeschool and school groups, as well as educational programming in their barn.

  • Age: A wide variety of programming is available for different ages
  • Subject: Program can include: Social Studies, Science, Math, English Language Arts, Information Skills, Healthy Living, Visual Arts

Greenville County Museum of Art

864.271.7570 | 420 College St., Greenville, SC

A field trip to the Greenville County Museum of Art provides an exciting way to enhance your curriculum and expand student learning.

Learn about agriculture at Stewart Farms. Enjoy the pumpkin patch and the corn maze.
Offers field trips and occasional special events for homeschoolers.

Homeschool Days for fall are September 26 and 27, 2023.

Greenville Downtown Airport

864.242.4777 | 100 Tower Drive, Greenville, SC

Visit the Downtown Greenville Airport and/or Runway Park! Learn about aviation, meet a pilot, see aircraft up close, and more! Minimum number of 15 children or $75 for the tour.

  • Advanced registration required.
  • Subjects: social studies, science, careers
  • Groups can add on lunch at Runway Cafe with special group pricing.

Bob Jones Museum and Gallery 

864.770.1331 | 1700 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville, SC

Homeschool: Museum and Gallery at Bob Jones University host Homeschool Days monthly for students ages 5-14 years old. Classes are at 10 am and 2 pm. Parents may check their child in and leave or stay for a discounted lesson. Classes are held in the Mack Building on the campus of Bob Jones University.

Field Trips: Tours are available for K-12 classes of selected collections on display on the campus of Bob Jones University including: a closer look at American artist Benjamin West during the Revolutionary War and experiencing ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Hebrew cultures as far back as 3200 BC! Learn more about tours!

Museum on the Move brings museum learning to your K-12 classroom by integrating art with the core subject areas and meeting SC state and national standards.

Paris Mountain State Park

864.244.5565 | 2401 State Park Road, Greenville, SC

Paris Mountain offers group hikes and educational programs about nature and the history of Paris Mountain State Park.

  • Ages: School Age, plus family programming
  • Subjects: Science, History
  • Families can enjoy Creek Ranger Hikes in addition to other educational events.