Rosa Parks Museum [AL]

Description

The Rosa Parks Museum presents the history of the events of and the people involved in the 1955 and 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott. The museum is located at the site of Rosa Parks' refusal to give her seat on a Montgomery public bus to a Caucasian man. Following Parks' arrest, many African American residents boycotted the bus system as a protest against segregation. In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled segregation of buses unconstitutional. Collections include a replica of the aforementioned bus. The children's wing offers a sensory "time travel experience," which presents life under early Jim Crow laws.

The museum offers exhibits and a research center.

Independence Mine State Historical Park [AK]

Description

The Independence Mine State Historic Park commemorates the early history of Alaska, which first became populated during the gold rushes of the late 129th century. Gold was first discovered in the Independence Mine area in 1886, and within 20 years two major mines were operating in the area. Today, large portions of the mines are open to visitors year round.

The State Historical Park offers self-guided as well as guided tours, a visitor center, and a museum. The website offers visitor information and a history of the park.

Fort Morris Historic Site [GA]

Description

The Fort Morris Historic Site preserves the history of Fort Morris, constructed in 1776 in order to protect the thriving colonial port of Sunbury. The fort was taken by the British after a brief bombardment in 1779, and was used again in the war of 1812 under the name Fort Defiance.

The historic site offers ranger-led tours, educational programs, and exhibits in the site's visitor center. The website offers a brief history of the fort, a photo gallery, and visitor information.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House [VA]

Description

The circa 1939 Pope-Leighey House is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian architecture—residential architecture designed to be affordable to the average individual and to mesh with its natural environment. The home's furnishing were also designed by Wright to provide an immersion environment.

The house offers period rooms, guided tours, and a book club video presentation and guided tour. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more.

Historic Blakeley State Park [AL]

Description

The 3,800-acre Historic Blakeley State Park contains Native American mounds; a Civil War battlefield, site of the clash at Fort Blakeley; and an 1814 ghost town. The 1865 Battle of Blakeley was actually fought after the General Lee's surrender of the Confederate Army, and is considered the last major Civil War action. The park owns and operates a passenger boat, the Delta Explorer, which is used to provide tours.

The site offers more than 10 miles of trails, two-hour ecological boat tours, and guided tours. School tours aboard the Delta Explorer are welcome.

Hearthstone Historic House Museum [WI]

Description

The Hearthstone Historic House Museum is located in Wisconsin, and holds the honor of being the first home in the world lit by hydroelectricity. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum, and is opne to visitors year round.

The home offers guided tours, the "discovery trunks" school outreach program, special events, and exhibits. The website offers a brief history of the home, visitor information, and information regarding upcoming events.

Fort McAllister Historic Park [GA]

Description

The 1,725-acre Fort McAllister Historic Park is the site of the best preserved Confederate earthwork fortification. Withstanding numerous attacks, the fortification finally fell to the Union during General William T. Sherman's 1864 March to the Sea, also known as the Savannah Campaign. A museum on site presents Civil War history.

The park offers exhibits, fort tours, 4.3 miles of trails, a variety of outdoor activities, playgrounds, and two picnic shelters. The picnic shelters and fort tours are available by reservation.

Rising Sun Tavern [VA]

Description

Built by Charles Washington around 1760 as his home, this frame building became a tavern in 1792, operating in the bustling town of Fredericksburg. The Tap Room features a reconstructed bar cage and fine collection of 18th- and 19th-century English and American pewter. Another spacious room provided a space for meetings and private dinners by patrons of the tavern. "Tavern wenches" provide visitors with a lively interpretation of 18th-century tavern life. The tavern is filled with period furnishings and stories of early life in Fredericksburg.

The tavern offers tours.

Winterville Mounds [MS]

Description

The Winterville Mounds comprise the remains of a religious and ceremonial center used by an unidentified Native American population between circa 1000 and 1450. After 1450, the site appears to have been entirely abandoned. The people who made use of the mounds were a scattered farming culture located throughout the Yazoo-Mississippi River Delta basin. A few high-ranking individuals appear to have lived near the mounds.

The site offers exhibits.

Erie County Historical Society and Museum [PA]

Description

The Erie County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the unique historical heritage of Erie, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area. The society runs two museums, the Battles Museums of Rural Life and the Museum of Erie County History, and also operates two historic house museums, the Cashier's House and the Watson-Curtze Mansion. Finally, the society owns and operates the Erie Planetarium, a prime attraction for school groups and visitors of all ages.

The society offers guided tours, exhibits, traveling exhibits, school outreach programs featuring 60-90 minute presentations, planetarium shows, and special events. The website offers visitor information, histories of the society and its attractions, a calendar of events, and information regarding the educational programs offered by the society.