Educational Programs

The Surratt House Museum offers a variety of museum-based and outreach programs for schools, camps, day care facilities, and boy-scout and girl-scout groups. Educational programs are developed for children ranging between 5-18 years of age. Depending on the program selected, the museum emphasizes two main topics: 1) The involvement of Mary Surratt and her family in the Lincoln assassination and 2) Daily life in Prince George’s County, Maryland during the mid-19th century. All educational programs are presented by museum educators attired in period clothing, The programs support the observation, analytical and decision-making skills listed within the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum. For information on the specific programmatic offerings as well as instructions on how to book an educational program, please click the link below or contact the Surratt House Museum education coordinator at 301-868-1121 or susan.proctor@pgparks.com.

Museum-Based Educational Programs

Program Logistics

Wednesday - Fridays (depending on availability)  
$1 per student  
Maximum 30 students*  
*Arrangements can be made for larger groups  
2 free teachers/chaperones per 15 students  
$2 per additional chaperone  
Surratt House Museum includes historic house, visitor  center, museum shop and open-air picnic tables.  Educational programs last approximately one hour.

Select An Education Program

Daily Life of the Surratt Family
(recommended for K– 3rd grades)

What was Mary Surratt’s everyday life really like? Is it dramatically different than our lives today? Students will learn about the day-to-day life of those who lived on the Surratt property, including Mary Surratt, her family and the enslaved people. During this guided tour of the Surratt house, the program addresses the Surratt family business, social customs and work inside the home.

Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum

Acquire new vocabulary through listening
Recall and discuss what they understand
Identify and question what did not make sense
Describe how the community has changed over time and how people have contributed to its change
Examine differences between past and present time
Describe people, places and artifacts of today and long ago

Mary Surratt: Guilty or Innocent?
(recommended for 4th-12th grades)

Was Mary Surratt innocent or guilty?  That is the central question at the Surratt House Museum. Students will learn the chronology of events that led to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the evidence and testimony that ultimately found Mrs. Surratt and 7 others guilty of conspiracy. During this guided tour of the information, state a clear opinion on the guilt or innocence of Mary Surratt and be able to support that position.   Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum:

Students will acquire new vocabulary
Identify key facts
Summarize the main points of an issue explaining different viewpoints
Make a decision based on the analysis of issues
Identify and formulate a position on a course of action or an issue.

Museum Outreach Educational Programs

Program Logistics

Monday - Friday (depending on availability)  
$1 per student for Prince George’s County Schools  
$3 per student for all other school districts  
Maximum 30 students*
 *Arrangements can be made for larger groups  Educational programs last approximately one hour.

Select An Outreach Program

What is That?
(recommended for K–3rd grades)

What was Mary Surratt’s everyday life really like? Was it dramatically different than our lives today? How did they survive without electricity, indoor plumbing or a central air? Students will learn about the day-to-day life of the Surratt family and analysis some of the more unique items that were common place during the 1850s and 1860s. Program is presented by a museum educator dressed in period attire and includes the use of reproduction period objects.

  Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum:

Acquire new vocabulary through listening
Recall and discuss what they understand
Identify and question what did not make sense
Describe how the community has changed over time and how people have contributed to its change
Examine differences between past and present time
Describe people, places and artifacts of today and long ago

Mary Surratt: Guilty or Innocent?
(recommended for grades 4-8)   

Was Mary Surratt innocent or guilty?  That is the central question at the Surratt House Museum. With guidance from a museum educator dressed in period attire and a power point resentation, students will play the role of the defense, the prosecution and the jury as they hear the chronology of events that led to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the testimony that was used during the trial of Mary Surratt. Students are asked to analyze information, state a clear opinion on the guilt or innocence of Mary Surratt and be able to support that position.   Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum:

Students will acquire new vocabulary
Identify key facts
Summarize the main points of an issue explaining different viewpoints
Make a decision based on the analysis of issues
Identify and formulate a position on a course of action or an issue

Clothing of the Civil War Era
(recommended for grades K-5)

Clothing during the 1850s and 1860s not only identified the fashion of the day, but also projected the social values of the time and the distinct differences between male and female. Students will examine the cultural differences between past and present and share in the experience of wearing clothing of the Civil War era.   Programs are given by knowledgeable and experienced educators dressed in period attire of the 1850s and 1860s.   

Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum:

Acquire new vocabulary through listening.
Recall and discuss what they understand
Identify and question what did not make sense.
Examine differences between past and present time.