Our Class Trip

As a part of an interdisciplinary unit, focusing on the art and history of the area, we took a class trip to the James A. Michener Museum. The trip was intended to provide the students with insight into the relevance of and a relationship with local history and art. Before taking the trip, the students were given assignments in various classes relating to the area’s art history. At the museum, the students were responsible for documenting the trip, both through notes and photographs, of what they saw and learned at the museum. After the trip, the students completed a summative project to show evidence of what they have learned from this unit.

“In 1988, with the support of many dedicated citizens, the James A. Michener Art Museum opened as an independent, non-profit cultural institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the art and cultural heritage of the Bucks County region.” “The Museum is named for Doylestown's most famous son, the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer and supporter of the arts who had first dreamed of a regional art museum in the early 1960's.” “ In November of 1999, the James A. Michener Art Museum publicly announced the largest single gift in the institution's history. Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest gave the Museum an extensive collection of fifty- nine paintings by important regional artists of the Pennsylvania Impressionist School. The museum is now home to a world class collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings.” (from

“The massive stone walls and warden's house that make up the core of the Michener Art Museum today began as the Bucks County prison in After a century of use, the abandoned and antiquated buildings were being torn down when the County Commissioners agreed to preserve the historic landmark and lease the land and buildings to house the new Museum.” “After extensive renovation, the Museum opened to the public in September, Since then, there have been two separate expansions, in 1993 and 1996, which added modern gallery space and state-of-the-art storage facilities, plus an outdoor sculpture garden completed in 2000.” “Today, the old Bucks County jail, once a place of fear and despair, has been transformed into a welcoming center of culture and beauty... guarding the artistic soul of Bucks County.”

We can’t wait to see what’s inside!

The students read about, and documented, the historical nature of the area’s art and artists for their final projects, which could be a paper, scrapbook, or PowerPoint presentation.

The students had the chance to admire, and pose with, many different pieces of art work including…..

The students were given time to reflect on the works, both individually and as a group. The students discussed their impressions of various pieces of art, the museum itself, and the history of Bucks County, PA as encapsulated by the artwork presented.

Hmmmm… What did you think about that painting? Yes….quite

Now, the students will be given the chance to showcase their knowledge and skills as area scholars and artists. Each student will prepare a project as the culmination of the lessons learned in this unit for presentation and display. The students will present the material in class and also one evening at the annual spring art show Which will be…