Field Trips

The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry Labor (YHCIL), or the Steel Museum, offers a variety of curriculum-related displays, multi-media exhibits & activities for your students. A visit to our facility will promote an appreciation & understanding of the people, industries & organizations that helped shape our community, region, state & nation.

Guided tours and select activities are available for all students, from 4th grade through 12th grade. We also have specialized programs for students with special needs & students on the Autism Spectrum.

Front exhibit display at the museum with a sign that reads "waste not want not"
Boy Scouts learning methods of steel production using Play-doh.

Covid-19 Notice

In order to maintain social distancing, we are limiting tours/field trips to 10 people at this time. We will continue to follow guidelines provided by our local, county and state health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the meantime, we have uploaded a variety of worksheets and activities that can be done from home or the classroom.

Options

Typical School tours are broken down into one or two 30-minute segments with an optional 15-minute introductory video of Youngstown & steel making played before the tour or activities. The video can be sent to you for viewing before your visit, please contact the museum for this information.

Additionally, if no activities are required, a 45-60 minute tour can be adapted for students, please let the museum staff know ahead of time of your preference. Adjustments are available to suit your group’s needs & schedule.

Tour

30 minute guided tour— our regular tour takes groups of 15-20 through the exhibits as docents lead students on a tour of the museum & highlight the various elements required in the process to make iron & steel. Museum staff identify why steel production occurred in the Mahoning Valley, as well as discuss the role & importance of immigration & welfare capitalism to steel making.

Differentiated tours based on classroom learning are available & preferred for school groups to engage students’ prior learning. Please contact museum staff prior to visit to book a differentiated tour.

Hands-on

30 minutes of hands-on activities—teachers may choose from the activities below. We will divide students into small groups to accommodate the activities & tours. Choose one thirty minute program or two fifteen minute programs.

Activities Available Upon Request:

  • Company Story (30 minute program)

  • Hot Strip Rolling Mill Process (30 minute program)

  • Wood versus Steel (15 minute program)

  • Pattern Making/Sand Casting (20-30 minute program)

  • Safety in the Mill (15 minute program)

  • Primary & Secondary Source (30 minute program)

  • Poetry in the Mills (30 minute program)

Cost

$3 per student—teachers and chaperones are free

Classroom provided for brown bagged lunches (you provide)

Hours

We are open to the public Wednesday through Friday from 10:00am - 4:00pm. However, we are able to accommodate different days and hours if necessary.

Call (330-941-1314) or email centerofindustryandlabor@gmail.com to schedule a field trip or with any additional questions.