Ushers Ferry Historic Village is an open-air, living history museum whose mission is to interpret life in a small Iowa town at the turn of the twentieth century. To accomplish this, we believe in getting people involved in history. That is why we have many interactive, hands-on experiences. We know you and your students will find an Ushers Ferry experience to be one that will be talked about and remembered for a long time to come. Contact the village for field trip prices and availability. Contact information is at the bottom of this page.

Bringing History To Life: Ushers Ferry School Tours

Take a step back in time as your students become students at Cherry Valley school in an exciting and informative role playing experience. Students are provided ahead of time with names and character descriptions of the students they will represent. Then, at the school, they will experience the school day as that person. While going through a typical day, the teacher/interpreter will seamlessly weave in information and history. This is a very interactive experience that students will learn from and remember for a long time to come. This program is available to students throughout the school year.   

 Download our School Tour Packet Here

This tour takes classes through three half-hour stations at the School house, Main Street and one of the Village homes. This is a fast paced, fun tour that will be remembered.

This is a four station tour that takes students on a exciting journey through the world of folk tales. The program fits particularly well with the sixth grade unit of folk tales, but can be tailored to many grade levels. Stations include: Ballads and Song Stories which takes students back to the times of the bards and moves up through the ballads of the Civil War; Fairy Tales and Legends which takes a look at both our well-known fairy tales as well as the heroes of the uniquely American Tall Tale that were told around the fire a hundred years ago. Cedar Rapids Stories focuses on the early days around Linn County and features early heroes like Judge Greene and Robert Ellis as well as a good share of local scoundrels.

Here's the Route to a Great Trip...With a tour to Ushers Ferry Historic Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa your group will take a trip back in time that they will talk about long after they return to the present. Ushers Ferry Historic Village is an open-air, living history museum that enables visitors to experience life in a small Iowa town at the turn of the 20th century. From the moment your motor-coach heads down the hill to our beautiful village in the valley, you will feel the trappings of 21st century life falling away. Guests explore the Village's more than thirty historic homes and businesses at their own pace. Throughout the Village surprises, discoveries and hands-on experiences wait for the visitor in this very interactive setting.
Please ask us about our newest experiential tours that enable groups to experience history...feeding the chickens may be one of your chores!

• "April Fool's: Tall Tales and Mark Twain"
• "The Pursuit of Love: Tales of Romance"
• "Love Letters and Lamplight: Stories from O Henry"
• "The Virginian"
• "The Jungle Book"
• "Morbid Curiosities": An Evening with Edgar Alan Poe