Canterbury Shaker Village [NH]

Description

The 694-acre Canterbury Shaker Village contains 29 Shaker buildings—25 restored and 4 reconstructed. The site preserves the 200-year history of the Canterbury Shakers. Historically, the village was founded in 1792; and, by the 1850s, was home to more than 300 people. Shaker beliefs included using dance as a communal form of communication with God, equality of the sexes, group ownership, and celibacy. Collections consist of more than 30,000 artifacts.

The village offers exhibits, period rooms, three guided tours, self-guided tours, family tours, guided student tours and activities, hayrides, workshops, family activities, educational programs, hiking trails, craft demonstrations, outreach programs, traveling trunks, summer camps, a reading room, archival access, and food for purchase. The reading room and archival documents are available by appointment. Reservations are required for field trip groups. The website offers virtual exhibits on Shaker pets, maple syrup gathering, dentistry, architectural re-use, and area tourism. The website offers games and supplementary materials for teachers and lesson plans.

American Swedish Institute [MN]

Description

The American Swedish Institute is a historic house museum, cultural center, and history and culture museum dedicated to the history, culture, and accomplishments of Swedish Americans. The institute is located within an early-20th century chateauesque mansion. Exhibit topics include immigration, craft traditions, homeland nostalgia, historical Swedish populations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Swedish-American vaudeville.

The institute offers period rooms; exhibits; group tours; children's language and culture classes; summer day camps; a Lucia choir; customizable school tours; student educational programs; and student outreach programs, including role-playing, living history, and storytelling presentations. Reservations are required for group tours and all student programs.

Jackson County Historical Society and Museums [MO]

Description

The Jackson County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Jackson County, Missouri. To this end, the society operates a lending library and non-circulating archive; 1859 jail, marshal's home, and museum; and the Harry S Truman Office and Courtroom, where Truman (1884-1972) practiced prior to being elected Senator and 33rd President of the United States. The jail presents local legal and military history between the 1840s and the Civil War.

The society offers circulating library and non-circulating archives access, research assistance, self-guided and guided tours of the jail and marshal's home, exhibits, tours of the office and courtroom, and a 30-minute introductory film in the Truman site. Payment is required for non-member library archives access and research assistance. Reservations are required for library and archives access, guided tours of the jail and marshal's home, and group tours of the office and courtroom. The website offers a teacher's guide for the jail site.

Old State House [DE]

Description

The Georgian-style Old State House, completed in 1791, served as the headquarters of both the Delaware state and Kent County governments. The first floor contains an 18th-century style courtroom, and the second floor presents the former chambers of the state legislature. Artworks displayed include paintings by Denis A. Volozan (1765-1820) and Thomas Sully (1783-1872).

The house offers tours. Reservations are required for large groups.

Kimball Jenkins Estate [NH]

Description

The estate includes an 1883 Victorian mansion, art school, and exhibition galleries. Gallery themes include student, teacher, and regional works; new regional artists; and art from throughout the U.S., which is deemed historically important.

The estate offers exhibits, art classes, and a children's summer camp.

Raynham Hall Museum [NY]

Description

The Raynham Hall Museum is a historic home depicting life between the 1770s and 1870s. Samuel Townsend, a prosperous international merchant, purchased the property in 1738. Townsend later served on the New York Provincial Congress. Between 1778 and 1779, the Queen's Rangers, led by English Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), made the Patriot family's home their headquarters. During this time, legend has it, Sally Townsend overheard Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender the West Point fort to the British; and informed the Culper Spy Ring about Benedict (1741-1801) and his accomplice Major John Andre (1750-1780). The site displays over 500 artifacts, including pieces owned by the Townsends and others made in Long Island.

The museum offers colonial and Victorian period rooms, colonial- and Victorian-style gardens, and children's summer workshops.

Franklin County Historical Society and Museum [Virginia]

Description

The Society was chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1968 for the stated purpose of collecting and preserving the history of Franklin County, VA. To that end, it offers memberships to the general public to encourage interest in local history. It also operates a history museum and research library to provide public access to collected materials.

The museum offers exhibits; the society offers research library access and occasional educational and recreational events.