School Tours

Student and youth group rates are available to groups of 10 or more.  To check availability for your preferred date, please contact Group Services at 252-639-3524, or submit a group tour request form. School Group Reservation Form

One Day Pass

Discover North Carolina as it was more than 250 years ago with a visit to Tryon Palace and our historic buildings.  Our costumed interpreters will bring early Colonial American history to life. Experience the sound of a Fife and Drum or a musket firing.  More of North Carolina’s history can be explored with a visit to the History Center’s state of the art exhibits and galleries. With the all-inclusive One Day Pass, you have access to the Tryon Palace gardens and grounds, a tour of the Palace and the rich history of New Bern and eastern North Carolina at the North Carolina History Center.

Gardens & Galleries Pass

For groups wanting to experience Tryon Palace, its gardens, and grounds, but not a guided tour of the Governor’s Palace, the Gardens & Galleries Pass is ideal. Discover the rich history of coastal North Carolina in the Regional History Museum as you travel back in time through the Pepsi Family Center’s time machine to explore an eastern NC village in 1835.  Across the street, explore our 16 acres of magnificent colonial revival gardens. The Gardens & Galleries Pass does not include Governor’s Palace Tour or any other historic buildings.

Governor’s Pass (All Ages)

Experience a guided tour of the Governor’s Palace and the Kitchen Office and a demonstration of 18th century cooking techniques by a costumed interpreter. Explore the Palace gardens and grounds including living history demonstrations from our military encampment, and if time permits, take a tour through some of our historic homes. The Governor’s Pass does not include admittance to the galleries and exhibits within the North Carolina History Center.

Garden Sprouts 

Attendees will participate in a scavenger hunt to discover what’s in the Kitchen Garden, followed by a discussion on “Where does food come from?”  Very much tailored towards age of the group.

Garden Saplings

Choose between a garden or pollinator topic prior to tour.  Tour is tailored towards the age of group.

Young Gardeners

Tour topic chosen ahead of time.  These tours are more in-depth discussions on growing gardens, pollination, and other topic for students with more advanced science or agricultural knowledge.

The Day of Your Group Visit

Allow your group plenty of travel time. Late arrivals may not be to participate in all the activities included in the group’s tour itinerary due to time restrictions. Please bring your confirmation with your assigned check-in with you.  Different tours are assigned different check-in locations. Your check-in location is where you will receive passes and instructions for beginning your tour.

Amenities:

WiFi is available throughout the History Center and Palace grounds.

Snack can be purchased at Tryon Palace’s Museum Store in the North Carolina History Center.

Beverage vending machines are located on the historic site grounds

Important Student Group Guidelines to remember and share:

  1. Large groups are typically split into smaller groups of 25 people or less.
  2. Every adult must wear an admission pass sticker.
  3. Many of the objects at Tryon Palace are several hundred years old. To help preserve these items for future generations, we ask that you do not touch any artifacts or sit on the furniture.
  4. Youth must be supervised in the gardens.  Please stay on pathways to ensure that plantings are not damaged during your tours.   No running or climbing anywhere on site.
  5. Food, drinks, gum, and backpacks are not allowed in the exhibition buildings.
  6. Cell phones must be turned off during guided tours.

North Carolina’s tax laws–N.C. General Statute § 105-164.4(a)(10)- Jan. 1, 2015. Tryon Palace must charge sales tax on admissions, programs, and special events. The tax applied consists of the current state sales tax of 4.75 percent and the current Craven County tax of 2 percent.