Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens [FL]

Description

The Historic Rossetter House Museum and Gardens consists of the 1908 Rossetter House and Gardens and the 1865 Houston Cemetery. The Rossetter House stands on land settled in 1859, and contains Rossetter family Victorian furnishings and decorative arts. The Houston Cemetery holds 12 graves, marked by both headstones and footstones. The Houston family, interred in the cemetery on site, served as aids to Civil War era blockade runners, fishing and sportsmanship guides, and local politicians.

The museum offers period rooms, guided house tours, guided group tours, and guided ghost tours. The cemetery and gardens are open to the public free of charge. Reservations are required for group tours.

Afton Historical Society Museum [MN]

Description

The Afton Historical Society Museum presents the history of Afton, Minnesota, originally settled for its proximity to French fur traders. Located within the 1868 Congregational Church, the museum holds vernacular artifacts, military artifacts, costumes, historic toys and games, photographs, and other items.

The museum offers exhibits and vintage loom demonstrations. The website offers brochures for self-guided area walking tours.

North Andover Historical Society, Museum, and Historic Houses

Description

Founded in 1913, the Society is headquartered at the Samuel Dale Stevens Memorial Building. This museum houses the Society's collection of early American furniture and changing exhibits in the Main Gallery; an extensive archive of historic documents, photographs, and maps; a book shop, and staff offices. The 1789 Johnson Cottage, adjacent to the museum, is the last surviving artisan's cottage in North Andover's Old Center. The Cottage shows the life of an average family in the 19th century. The 1715 Parson Barnard House is the Society's other historic house. Visitors will see furnishings that reflect the changes in lifestyle as experienced by four early inhabitants of the house from 1715 through 1830.

The society offers tours, lectures, workshops, research library access, and educational and recreational programs; the museums offer exhibits.

McDonald's #1 Store Museum

Description

The Museum is a recreation of the first McDonald's Restaurant opened in Des Plaines, IL, by McDonald's Corporation founder, Ray Kroc, on April 15, 1955. The customer service and food preparation areas contain original equipment used in the days when fresh potatoes were peeled, sliced, blanched and fried; milkshake mix and syrup were whipped up on the Multi-mixers; Coca-Cola and root beer were drawn from a barrel, and orangeade from the orange bowl. The all-male crew is represented by mannequins dressed in the 1955 uniform—dark trousers, white shirts, aprons, and paper hats. The basement features a historical display of photos, memos, early advertising, memorabilia, and a short video presentation.

The museum offers exhibits and a short film.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Description

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences brings the public into the exploration of the natural sciences. It also operates the North Carolina Museum of Forestry, which follows the history of forestry in the state.

The museum offers exhibits, programs and guided and self-guided tours for school groups, a Museums in the Schools program for elementary students, professional development for educators, camps, and other recreational and educational events.

Early American Museum [IL]

Description

The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets the history of East Central Illinois, specifically Champaign County, for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and recreational and educational events.

History Museum of Western Virginia [VA]

Description

The History Museum of Western Virginia presents artifacts and information relevant to the history of the western portion of Virginia. The site also operates the circa 1905 Crystal Spring Pumping Station, which provided water-based power for Roanoke, VA.

The museum offers exhibits, interactive curriculum-based outreach programs, interactive curriculum-based programs, and research library access. The pump station is open May through September. Student program topics include immigration, African Americans in the maritime industry, Native American life and leisure, pioneer art, Mali, Civil War soldier life, patriotic symbols, early international conflict, archaeology, rural life, steam locomotives in Southwest Virginia, the work and labor of sharecroppers' children, trade, exploration, and navigation. The website offers a virtual exhibit and a searchable collections database with images.

Heritage Area System [NY]

Description

The system describes the historical significance of 18 New York areas: Albany, Buffalo, Harbor Park, Heights, Kingston, Mohawk Valley, North Shore, Ossining, RiverSpark, Rochester High Falls, Sackets Harbor, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Seneca Falls, Susquehanna, Syracuse, Western Erie Canal, and Whitehall.

The system offers visitor centers for the above heritage areas.

Captain Salem Avery House [MD]

Description

The Captain Salem Avery House, built circa 1860, served as the home of a local fisherman, known as Captain Avery, and his family. The museum presents the history of the Chesapeake Bay's western shore—with a particular focus on the years between 1850 and the present.

The house offers exhibits and a research library. The library collection includes oral histories. The website offers an activity guide for teachers.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum [MO]

Description

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum exhibits include artifacts spanning over a century of the pioneer history described in the Little House books. The books, written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957), chronicle the author's life in a pioneer family. The life, writings, and career of Rose Wilder Lane (1886-1968), Laura's daughter, are also featured in a section of the museum. Recreations of rooms from Rose's homes, her desks, her manuscripts, and souvenirs from her world travels are also displayed. The museum is located at Rocky Ridge Farm, where Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her famous novels.

The museum offers period rooms and exhibits. The website offers word finds, book quizzes, and coloring pages.