Pabst Mansion [WI]

Description

The Pabst Mansion, a Flemish Renaissance Revival mansion completed in 1892, was home to Captain Frederick Pabst (1836-1904), best known as a beer baron. In addition to leading a successful brewing business, Pabst was also a sea captain and real estate developer. The interior shows a level of restraint unusual in homes of the era which belonged to the wealthy.

The mansion offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours, self-guided tours, and outreach slide presentations and lectures. Tours can be arranged for special interests including art, architecture, and the German language; and still others are available specifically designed for students.

USS Constellation [MD]

Description

The U.S.S. Constellation serves as a museum of its own history. The vessel is the final sail-powered warship built by the Navy, and the last floating Civil War era vessel. Education program topics include African Americans in the Navy, life at sea as a powder monkey, the Constellation's efforts against the slave trade, and the construction of the sloop-of-war.

The vessel offers gun drills, exhibits, an audio tour, an overnight program, educational programs, and educational outreach presentations. The website offers downloadable curriculum.

USS Potomac - The Presidential Yacht Potomac [CA]

Description

The USS Potomac was built in 1934, and is best known as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht. It served this purpose between 1936 and 1945, the year of Roosevelt's death (1882-1945). Today, the vessel serves as an interpretive center focusing on the years of Roosevelt's presidency (1933-1945).

The vessel offers exhibits, a 15-minute film, student educational cruises, two-hour history cruises, guided tours, self-guided tours, and a library with circulating materials. The website offers a gallery of historic photographs. Reservations are required for student cruises.

Wallace House Foundation [IA]

Description

The Wallace House Foundation presents information on the Wallace family of Iowa and its far-ranging influences. The Wallaces included the co-founder of the American Farm Bureau Foundation, two Secretaries of Agriculture (1921-1924 and 1933-1940), and a Secretary of Commerce. The foundation operates a museum, located in an 1882 Italianate Victorian residence once owned by the Wallaces.

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

Historic Fort Snelling [MN]

Description

Completed in 1825, Fort Snelling was originally built to prevent non-U.S. citizens from making use of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. After 1851, the fort served as a supply depot, training center for Union troops, and the headquarters of the Army Department of Dakota.

The fort offers a hands-on educational program; living history tours; day camps based on the pioneer stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder; blacksmithing, bread baking, tea, and hearth baking classes; outreach presentations given by costumed interpreters; lectures; and a picnic area. The website offers a virtual tour.