Somerset Place State Historic Site [NC]

Description

One of the upper South's largest antebellum plantations, Somerset Place was home from 1785–1865 to 850 enslaved people, three generations of owners, and around 50 white and two black employees. It once included more than 100,000 wooded, swampy acres bordering Lake Phelps, where such crops as rice were cultivated. Today, the 31-acre site offers a realistic view of 19th-century life on a large North Carolina plantation through seven original buildings and meshes the lifestyles of all of the plantation's residents in one concise chronological social history.

The site offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Bidwell House Museum [MA]

Description

Built in 1750, the Bidwell House served as a parsonage for the town's first minister, Reverend Adonijah Bidwell. The Museum contains artifacts from the daily life of its 18th and 19th century inhabitants.

The Museum offers educational programs for school groups of all ages.

Oakland Museum [OR]

Description

Oakland Museum is a small, volunteer-run town museum devoted to the history of Oakland, Oregon. Remodeled in 2004, the museum offers six new exhibits with interpretive panels added. Topics include the railroad, bank, pharmacy, doctor's office and a parlor.

Free self-guided tours are available but no educational programming is offered.

Van Wickle House [NJ]

Description

The Van Wickle House was built in 1722 by the son of a wealthy Dutch carpenter. The home is a fabulous example of the Dutch architecture common to the New Jersey and New York area. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum, and is also frequently rented for community activities.

The home offers guided tours. The website offers a history of the home and visitor information.

Gustine Historical Society [CA]

Description

From the society website: "The Gustine Historical Society seeks to uncover, preserve and disseminate knowledge about the history of Gustine and the "West Side" of California." The society runs a local history museum as well as a history center, which is research focused.

The society offers research resources and self-guided tours of the museum. The website offers a history of Gustine, visitor information, and an extensive photo gallery.

Dorothy G. Page Museum and Historic Town Site [AK]

Description

The Dorothy G. Page Museum presents the history of the Wasilla, Knik, and Willow Creek areas, Alaska. Exhibit topics include mining; the Knik Trading Co.; the postal system; the Den'iana Athabascans, the local Native American population; and Joe Reddington Sr. and Dorothy G. Page, founders of the Iditarod. Eight historic structures display the 1917 beginnings of Wasilla.

The museum offers exhibits and tours. Reservations are required for tours.

History Center of Olmsted County and Mayowood Estate [MN]

Description

The History Center of Olmstead County presents the history of Olmstead County, Minnesota. To this end, the center operates as a museum. The museum includes rooms devoted to the decorative arts; a hands-on children's cabin; and exhibits on topics which include IBM, St. Mary's Hospital, the 1883 Rochester tornado, and historical medicine. Artifact collections include textiles, military, decorative arts, Native American, agricultural and mechanical, and medical items. The center also operates the Mayowood Estate historic house museum. Erected in 1911 as the home of Dr. Charles H. Mayo, cofounder of the Mayo Clinic, Mayowood now contains period rooms.

The museum offers exhibits, educational programs, hands-on activities, museum tours, traveling trunks, and library access. Reservations are required for tours. The center also organizes baseball games, played in 1860s style. The Mayowood Estate offers period rooms and guided tours. The website offers virtual exhibits.

Women in History [OH]

Description

Women in History seeks to increase awareness of women's impact on U.S. history through dramatic re-creations of the lives of notable female figures. Costumes are period or patterned from period pieces, and hairstyles are created by a specialist in historic hair design. The organization is able to portray more than 100 historical figures.

The organization offers presentations, which generally include two 25-minute living history presentations by costumed "historical figures," an opening and closing, and time for questions and answers. The organization also offers two programs designed specifically for elementary and middle school students.

Pro Football Hall of Fame [OH]

Description

The Pro Football Hall of Fame commemorates athletes who have excelled in the sport of football, and presents the history of football in the U.S.

The hall offers self-guided tours, traditional and interactive exhibits, films, educational questionnaire booklets, educational programs in accordance with state educational standards, distance learning programs, seminars, teacher workshops, and a snack bar. Reservations are required for school groups. The website offers photographs, audio and video files, classroom activity suggestions by program, a teacher activity guide, and team activity guides.

Pender County Museum [NC]

Description

The Pender County Museum presents the history of Pender County, North Carolina. Collection highlights include a whiskey still, historical farming equipment, decorative arts pieces, World War II artifacts, and medical artifacts.

The museum offers exhibits, 41 oral history transcriptions from World War II veterans, and library access.