There’s so much to see and do on a campus as big as Michigan State University and sometimes it can seem overwhelming. You may ask yourself questions such as: where do you start, when are things open, how much does it cost? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of tours available right here on campus that can help you explore and discover all that MSU has to offer.
National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
The Cyclotron Laboratory offers free 90-minute tours to groups of 10 – 50 people. Tours are offered by appointment and can be made online. To schedule a tour or find out more information visit the Cyclotron Laboratory’s website.
MSU Bug House
If you’re interested in bugs, then the MSU Bug House tour is for you. The MSU Bug House offers one-hour tours for $50. Tour groups are limited to 30 people. The MSU Bug House offers free tours of the Bug House during designated open houses throughout the year. To find out more information on the MSU Bug House tours or open houses visit their website.
Beaumont Tower
Have you heard the tower’s strike during your day and thought, I wonder how that happens? If so, then the Beaumont Tower tour can help you learn more about the inner workings of the Beaumont Tower. Tours are available every Tuesday at noon during the academic year and by appointment during the summer. Find out more information on the Beaumont Tower tour here.
W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens
Do you love flowers and plants? Then you’ll love the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens tour. The W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens offers tours for up to 100 people. Tours are scheduled by filling out the W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens tour form online. There is a fee of $1 per student and $2 per adult, with a minimum group charge of $20 for all tours.
MSU Farms
MSU is home to many different animals, including sheep, cows, horses, cattle, swine and chickens. MSU Farms offers lots of opportunities for viewing any of these animals. The MSU Dairy Teaching and Research Center, the Sheep Teaching and Research Center and the Beef Cow-Calf Teaching and Research center are open daily between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free and there are marked trails for self-guided tours. To take a tour of the Beef Cattle Teaching and Research Center, Feed Mill, Horse Teaching and Research Center, Poultry Research and Teaching Center or the Swine Teaching and Research Center you must make an appointment with the facility manager. Find out more information about the MSU Farms tours on their website.
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
The Broad Museum provides extensive interactive tours for all age groups. Public tours are scheduled every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and by appointment Tuesday through Friday. The Broad Museum also provides “ElderHeART” tours for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, given when the museum is closed to the general public. To schedule a tour, a tour form must be completed and emailed to bamedu@msu.edu. The tour form can be found on their website.
Wharton Center
See what it’s like backstage at the Wharton Center. The Wharton Center offers free tours for all age groups. Tours must be booked a minimum of four weeks in advance. Tours during the week of Broadway performances are not guaranteed. To schedule a Wharton Center tour contact Nina Silbergleit at 517-884-3119 or nina@whartoncenter.com.
To find out what other tours may be available at MSU, contact the MSU Tour office at 517-353-9770 or visit their website at tour.msu.edu.