Bring History to Life with a Dunedin Field Trip!
The Dunedin History Museum invites teachers and students to explore the stories that shaped our community and connect them to Florida’s and America’s broader history. Our engaging exhibits, hands-on activities, and guided discussions make the past come alive in ways that inspire curiosity and critical thinking. In addition to the Museum, your class can experience other historic Dunedin landmarks—Andrews Memorial Chapel, the Dunedin Cemetery, and more—as part of a tailored field trip designed to complement your curriculum.
We do our best to accommodate school schedules! Field Trip dates and times are scheduled by request rather than set availability. Please list two or more preferred dates and times, and a Museum representative will reach out to confirm the best available option for your group. Schools may book a Museum Tour for $2 per student, or a combined Museum + Historic Downtown Walking Tour for $5 per student. Chaperones are charged the same rate as students, while teachers always attend for free. All tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Dates for both tour options are currently being finalized.
Traveling History Trunks
Bring history to life—right in your classroom! The Dunedin History Museum’s Traveling History Trunks deliver a mini-museum experience filled with reproduction artifacts, books, lesson plans, and hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and connect students to the past. Each trunk is tailored to specific grade levels—Elementary, Middle, and High School—and aligns with curriculum standards to make teaching history fun, interactive, and relevant.
Trunks are free to Pinellas County teachers and can be checked out for a two-week period. Schools are responsible for picking up and returning the trunks to the museum. History Trunks can also be adapted to support students with disabilities, and home-school groups are welcome to check out trunks for flexible, self-guided learning.
Educational Programs - History Trunk THemes
Victorious: Dunedin, Pinellas County, and World War II
During World War II, Dunedin played a remarkable role on both the home front and the front lines. Hundreds of Marines lived and trained along our coast, while local innovation—most notably the creation of citrus concentrate and the development of the amphibious Alligator tank—made significant contributions to the war effort. Dunedin residents supported the cause through Civil Defense participation, scrap drives, and by providing recreation and hospitality for the Marines stationed here.
This trunk’s lesson plans explore the invention of the Alligator tank, the history of Florida’s citrus industry, wartime rationing, and local Civil Defense efforts. Also included are recommended reading lists and supplemental classroom materials to enhance learning.
Stirling: 50 Years of Sister Cities
This kit shares the story of how two cities—Stirling, Scotland and Dunedin, Florida—formed a sister-city alliance that has flourished for over 50 years. This long-standing partnership sparked cultural exchanges, student collaborations, and community programs that promote global communication and understanding.
The included lesson plans explore the origins of the Sister Cities movement, provide classroom activities, and offer hands-on projects created in partnership with Stirling schools. Select student projects may even be exchanged between classrooms in Dunedin and Stirling, giving learners a meaningful international connection.
Florida in the Civil War
This kit includes replica Civil War uniforms from both the North and the South, along with personal items that soldiers commonly carried into battle. Through these hands-on artifacts, students gain a tangible understanding of daily life during the war.
Lesson plans explore the origins of the conflict, geographic mapping activities, the roles of minority soldiers, and additional topics tailored by grade level. The kit also provides recommended reading lists, supplemental classroom materials, and a full classroom set of Florida in the Civil War books for teachers to keep.
Florida in the Civil War
This kit includes replica Civil War uniforms from both the North and the South, along with personal items that soldiers commonly carried into battle. Through these hands-on artifacts, students gain a tangible understanding of daily life during the war.
Lesson plans explore the origins of the conflict, geographic mapping activities, the roles of minority soldiers, and additional topics tailored by grade level. The kit also provides recommended reading lists, supplemental classroom materials, and a full classroom set of Florida in the Civil War books for teachers to keep.
Smithsonian's Journey Stories/History of Dunedin
Journey stories are tales of how we and our ancestors came to America and the myriad reasons for that migration. These stories stretch from the Native Americans to individuals and families making that move today in search of their ideal of freedom. Lesson plans cover genealogy, mapping your heritage and family interviews and others according to grade level. Also included are recommended reading lists and classroom support material.
History of Sailing and ROTC Navy in Dunedin
This kit explores Dunedin’s rich maritime heritage and the development of local sailing and ROTC Navy programs. It features historic sailing photographs, books related to maritime history, a teacher’s planning guide, and student activities highlighting sailing traditions and the origins of the ——– that began in Dunedin.
The kit also includes lessons and historical literature about Dunedin’s ROTC Navy program. Some high school–level activities may require teachers to provide additional classroom tools or materials.