The Portable Museum Program provides hands-on learning for students using primary source materials, as well as standards supporting lesson plans and additional content for educators. Portable Museum Trunks and Kits, as well as Digital Trunks, can be booked alone or paired with a MOHAI field trip.
Portable Museum Trunks and Kits contain artifacts, historical photographs, documents, slideshows, digital media, and an extensive Teacher’s Manual with lesson plans and activities that can be modified to meet individual class needs.
Lesson plans target specific grade levels depending on the trunk or kit topic, but contents are suitable for all ages of K-12 students and materials can be adapted to any grade level.
Portable Museum rentals must be scheduled a minimum of two weeks in advance. Late change and cancellation fees apply. Renters are responsible for picking up and returning the Portable Museum to MOHAI.
Explore Museum Trunks, Museum Kits, and digital options below.
Portable Museum Trunks
Portable Museum Trunks cover expansive content areas and include two weeks’ worth of lesson plans.
Portable Museum Trunks contain artifacts, historical photographs, documents, slideshows, digital media, and an extensive Teacher’s Manual with lesson plans and activities that can be modified to meet individual class needs.
Lesson plans target specific grade levels depending on the trunk topic, but contents are suitable for all ages of K-12 students and materials can be adapted to any grade level.
Coast Salish Culture
Explore the rich cultural history of the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest, through art, stories, historic events, and the objects of daily life.
Exploration and Trade
Explorers from around the world came to the Pacific Northwest to gather information, claim lands, and trade. Students learn who they were, how they traveled, and what they traded.
Settlement in Puget Sound
The Oregon Trail brought many people to the Pacific Northwest. Learn about the daily life of early settlers and the reasons that ultimately brought them out West.
The Years of Growth and Change
The Pacific Northwest experienced significant growth and change between the years 1870 and 1910. Students uncover innovations in daily life and industry.
The World War II Homefront Experience
World War II brought global distress, but how did these events shape Seattle? Through artifact investigations, students explore the home-front experience.
Seattle Innovations
Innovation has defined our region as long as humans have lived in this place. Students will explore the regional tradition of innovation and practice problem-solving skills.
Portable Museum Kits
Portable Museum Kits include fewer, more targeted lessons focused on specific topics.
Portable Museum Kits contain artifacts, historical photographs, documents, slideshows, digital media, and an extensive Teacher’s Manual with lesson plans and activities that can be modified to meet individual class needs.
Lesson plans target specific grade levels depending on the kit topic, but contents are suitable for all ages of K-12 students and materials can be adapted to any grade level.
Discovering Seattle Stories
Discover the history of Seattle through the Great Seattle Fire in 1889 using artifacts and an interactive story. Designed for PreK-1st grade.
Century 21 Exposition Kit
Uncover the history and themes of Seattle's 1962 World's Fair as it relates to both the city's past and future using images, events, and objects from this historic event.
The Years of Growth & Change Dig Deep CBA Kit
The years from 1870-1910 marked a time of change in the Puget Sound region. Discover the innovations and industries that altered the way Washington residents lived their everyday lives.
Digital Museum Trunks
The four most popular Portable Museum Trunk topics have been adapted for a purely digital experience.
Digital Trunks contain lesson plans, activities, and primary sources such as documents, maps, and photographs. They can be adapted for use in-person or online learning settings.
Digital Trunks are purely digital files and materials and are available free of charge.
Request access through webforms linked in each trunk below. Once a request has been processed, you will receive a link to the Digital Trunk files and will have access to the content for 6 months.
Coast Salish Culture (Digital)
Explore the rich cultural history of the Coast Salish people of the Pacific Northwest, through art, stories, historic events, and the objects of daily life.
Exploration and Trade (Digital)
Explorers from around the world came to the Pacific Northwest to gather information, claim lands, and trade. Students learn who they were, how they traveled, and what they traded.
Settlement in Puget Sound (Digital)
The Oregon Trail brought many people to the Pacific Northwest. Learn about the daily life of early settlers and the reasons that ultimately brought them out West.
The Years of Growth and Change (Digital)
The Pacific Northwest experienced significant growth and change between the years 1870 and 1910. Students uncover innovations in daily life and industry.
Portable Museum Program FAQ
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How far in advance should a Portable Museum rental be booked?
Portable Museum rental reservations must be made a minimum of two weeks in advance. It is recommended to make rental reservations 1-2 months in advance as certain Trunk or Kit topics may be in high demand at certain times of the year.
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When and where can Portable Museum rentals be picked up and returned?
Portable Museum Trunks and Kits can be picked up at MOHAI’s South Lake Union location by the loading dock (on the eastern side of the building) 7 days a week during museum hours on the confirmed pick-up date. Trunks must be returned by 5 pm on or before a scheduled return date (or by 8 pm if the return date is the first Thursday of the month). All Portable Museum rentals must be returned as scheduled and short-notice rental extensions cannot always be accommodated.
When picking up a Portable Museum Program, please note the dimensions of the Trunk or Kit and plan ahead to ensure the rental can be properly transported to and from MOHAI. All portable museum Trunks come with a dolly for transport, and the larger Kits include their own wheels.
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Does the teacher using the Portable Museum Program have to be the one to pick it up?
Teachers are welcome to send another person to pick up or return their Portable Museum Program rental. Please ensure that whoever is picking up the materials has the rental confirmation information, pick-up instructions, and knows which Trunk or Kit topic they’ll be receiving.
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Can MOHAI deliver or pick up a Portable Museum at our school?
MOHAI is not able to drop off or pick up Portable Museum Program Trunks or Kits. All materials must be picked up and returned to the museum.
MOHAI is unable to ship Portable Museum rentals due to their size, weight, and fragile nature of their contents.
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How much does a trunk or kit rental cost? Is financial support available to help with the cost?
Trunk rentals cost a flat rate of $50 and kit rentals cost $30 for the initial two-week rental window. Rentals can be extended for an additional $25 a week for trunks and $15 a week for kits.
Scholarships for discounted rentals are available for schools that qualify; fines and regular rental extension fees still apply.
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What is MOHAI's cancellation policy?
Rental reservations may be canceled or rescheduled up to 14 days from the pick-up date. All rental date changes and cancellations made within 14 days of the scheduled pick-up date will incur a $25 fee.
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What happens if an item is lost or broken?
Renters are responsible for keeping the Portable Museum rental and its contents safe. The renter will be charged the replacement cost of any lost or broken items. Trunks and Kits should be stored in a secured area, or locked if others have access to them.