Enhance your trip to San Francisco Chinatown with one of our educational programs. These programs provide an in-depth exploration of the galleries at the Chinese Historical Society of America, while utilizing Chinatown as an educational learning space.
To check out tour availability, check out our school groups calendar.
Listed below are the types of programming that we offer.
Docent Tour (Tues.-Sun. | 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-3:00pm)
- Groups with less than 20 students (K-12) : $100 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- Groups with 20 students (K-12) or more: $5 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students & adults: $10 per participant (regardless of group size)
Docents guide visitors through the exhibit Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion, providing them with in-depth knowledge of the social and political climates that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act and the avenues Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans used to maneuver their circumstances. Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Self-Guided Tour (Wed.-Sun. | 10:00am-3:00pm)
- Groups with less than 20 students (K-12): $100 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- Groups with 20 students (K-12) or more: $5 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students & adults: $10 per participant (regardless of group size)
Using an activity booklet, school groups navigate the museum’s exhibitions and historic building, exploring Chinese American history.
Workshops (Tues.-Fri. | 10:00am-12:00pm)
- Groups with less than 20 students (K-12): $200 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- Groups with 20 students (K-12) or more: $10 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students & adults: $10 per participant (regardless of group size)
Workshops offer groups the opportunity to navigate social issues within the exhibit Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion. Duration: 60-75 minutes.
- Identity and Power
Participants explore the role that identity and power have in developing social relationships, both on an individual and communal level. - Immigration Policies
Participants experience the immigration process and consider how immigration policies are enforced.
Walking Tours (Tues.-Sun. | 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-3:00pm)
- Groups with less than 20 students (K-12): $150 flat rate for all students plus $10 per chaperone
- Groups with 20 students (K-12) or more: $10 per student (K-12) plus $10 per chaperone
- College students: $10 per student (regardless of group size)
- Adult groups: $25 per participant (regardless of group size)
Participants discover the connections between the past and present and reflecting on how everyday people make history happen through exploring the oldest Chinatown in the United States. Topics addressed include immigration policies, the 1906 earthquake, the rebuilding of Chinatown and its architecture, and community activism. Duration: 60-75 minutes.
Group Size
All programs require a minimum of 10 participants with a maximum of 25 people per program. Larger groups will be split up and each section would go through the program(s) consecutively.
Chaperones
For school groups, we have a 7:1 student to chaperone ratio. Please note the price for students and chaperones above.
Lunch Space
Groups are welcomed to use our Learning Center as an indoor lunch space. You can use the trash bins for a flat $50 fee. Or if you select the pack-in and pack-out option (meaning that you will take all your trash with you) the trash fee is waived. The museum does require advanced notice.
Group Reservation Policies for Payment, Refunds or Cancellations
Reservation
Check our School Groups Calendar for available times and dates. Please note, reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. To make a reservation, fill out the entire form below the calendar and remember to press the submit button. Requests are processed in the order received. Contact groups@chsa.org or (415) 391-1188 ext. 101 if further clarification is needed. Once a reservation is confirmed, a group will have to place a non-refundable deposit of 15% within 48 hours to ensure the reservation is held.
- Title I Schools: CHSA offers admission waivers for Title I schools. Please indicate your school’s status on your reservation form. Once a reservation is confirmed, the group will have to place a $50 deposit within 48 hours to hold the reservation.
We offer several payment options:
- Credit Card Payment: Credit card payments can be made online.
- Check Payment: The check must arrive before or on the day of the your scheduled visit date. Please write the invoice number in the memo section of your check.
- Payment at the Door: If you cannot pay before your scheduled visit, we can process cash, check or credit card payments at our admission desk. We ask that you bring a copy of your invoice with you. Without an invoice number, we will be unable to offer you the group reservation price. We also ask that you collect the money from your group members before arriving to the museum.
Cancellation or Rescheduling
The museum incurs significant staffing costs for cancellations or no shows. If your group does not notify us ahead of time, you are responsible for the full amount of the reservation.
Cancellations can be sent via email to groups@chsa.org. Your cancellation will be considered final once you will receive an email response. You will be refunded your payment based on when you cancelled. All refunds incur a processing fee.
Rescheduling requests can also be done over the phone or sent by email to groups@chsa.org. We will make every effort to accommodate your new proposed date, but cannot guarantee a spot. Please send at least two new dates as part of your request so that we can make the best effort to meet your needs.
Refunds
All refunds have a processing fee. Below is our refund policy depending on when your group cancels their visit.
- Before 21 days: 85% of your fee will be refunded
- 7 – 20 days: 50% of your fee will be refunded
- Under 7 days: No refund
Thanks again and we look forward to seeing you soon!
If you have anymore questions regarding our tour, check out our Field Trip FAQ. Contact groups@chsa.org or (415) 391-1188 ext. 101 if you have any further questions.
