How to Make a Reservation
What to Expect During Your Group Visit
Hours
Prices & Payment Information
Special Dscounts Available
Directions & Maps

To sign up for our Educator e-newsletter or mailed newsletter, both sent quarterly, please contact Kristine at kristine@handsonmuseum.org - please indicate what you would like to receive.

You can make a reservation by phone (423-928-6508, 423-928-6509, or 423-434-HAND) or by submitting your information through e-mail at main@handsonmuseum.org and someone will be in touch with you. We recommend you make reservations at least two weeks in advance. A reservation is required for all groups of ten or more. Groups of 20 or more are required to visit the museum in a structured tour format, smaller groups may be self-guided, if desired. Reservations must be made in order to receive a group discount. Please have the following information ready when you make a reservation:

• Group/School Name
• Contact Person
• Address and Phone Number
• Visiting Dates you are interested in
• Possible Arrival Times
• Age/Grade of Group
• Do you want to eat lunch in our Welcome Room? (additional $5 for every 25 students, will add thirty minutes to your stay)
• # of Children
• # of Adult Chaperones
• # of Teachers/Group Leaders
• Time you would like to eat, if using our lunch facility
• Specific Program Requests

If your group arrives by bus, a Hands On! staff member will greet your group at the drop off area (corner of Main St. and Colonial Way, see map below) to help unload the students. Staff will then lead your group to the entrance where they will enter and gather in our large group space. While staff reviews the five Hands On! rules with your group, a representative from your organization will complete any payments and receive any special instructions.

Once the rules are completed, your group will be divided into smaller groups of 15-25 students each. We make every effort to seperate students by class, but depending on class and overall group size, classes may be divided or combined as needed. Students will then rotate in their small groups around the different areas of the museum in 15-25 minute rotations depending on the duration of the stay. In each rotation area, they will receive an educator led program and time for organized free play. All programs are tied to the Tennessee State Curriculum standards.

Once students have rotated through the museum, your group will be escorted to the bus loading area.

Group tours are 1 1/2 hours long (may be 2 hours during a special exhibit). For groups of 80 or more, visits will be 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Extended tour length is available but is subject to prior approval and availability, you may request this at time reservation is made.

Hands On! offers a gift shop that groups may visit during their tour time. All items are subject to a 9.5% sales tax.

The Museum's lunch facilities are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please let us know when you make your reservation if you would like to eat here. There is an additional charge for this service.

Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm - (June, July, & August only)
Closed on Mondays September - May
Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Please allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours to fully enjoy and explore all of our exhibits and activities.

Holiday Closings: We are closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Please ckeck our events page for additional holiday or other closings.

Snow Schedule: We follow the Johnson City School System schedule on snow days.

To qualify for a group rate you must make an advance reservation and have at least 10 paying people in the group.

• Children ages 3 & older - $4.00/$6.00 (higher rate during special exhibit). A $1 discount is available for students who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program.
• Teachers & Chaperones - teachers are free, 1 chaperone for every 5 children is free, additional chaperones are $6.00 each
• Children 2 and younger - free
  
• Please note: a child with a family membership still must pay the regular group admission fee due to the additional programing they will receive
• You may pay using a check, credit card (VISA, MasterCard), or purchase order.

• K-4 classes in the Johnson City School System receive one free group admission each year as part of the Partners In Education agreement. A $1 charge may apply during a feature or traveling exhibt.
• Students in Bristol TN and VA city schools and Sullivan County schools may qualify for a grant through King Pharmaceuticals. Please ask when making your reservation to see if you qualify.

Please notify us at the time of your reservation if your group qualifies for one of these discounts.

Take Interstate 26 to Johnson City. Exit at exit #23 (Market Street). Hands On! is located one block west between Main and Market Streets with on-street and public parking located nearby.

Bus unloading is located at the corner of Colonial Way and Main Street, marked with a •. Please do not unload buses on Main Street. This is a busy street and the safety of children is very important. The buses may park under the Interstate overpass or on the hill behind Musey Church. Bus and car parking is noted on the street level map, marked with a car or bus image. Arrows indicate the direction of one way streets. Please see the maps below.

For driving directions from a specific starting point visit www.mapquest.com and enter 315 East Main Street, Johnson City , TN 37601 as the destination