"The earliest evidence of humans along Turnagain Arm is at Beluga Point, which prehistoric hunters used as a view point to search for Beluga whales and sheep. The first white explorers arrived in 1778 aboard Captain Cook's ships, Discovery and Resolution. Cook sailed up Cook Inlet hoping to find the Northwest Passage, but had to "turn again", leading him to name the water body River Turnagain. In the late 19th century, miners and trappers began traveling into interior Alaska from Whittier and Seward along old trails that soon became established routes with roadhouses. In 1895 prospectors crossed from the south side of Turnagain Arm to the north and searched for gold from Girdwood to Rainbow Creek.

In 1903, the Alaska Central Railway began building a railroad from Seward to Fairbanks, but the company soon went bankrupt. The U.S. Government bought the railroad in 1915 and improved the trail along the arm to handle the horse and wagon traffic needed for railroad construction. The trail was also used to deliver mail between Anchorage and Seward. IN 1917 telegraph lines were laid along the Turnagain "road" and by 1918 the railroad extended from Seward to Anchorage, with flag stops at Bird Creek, Indian, Rainbow and Potter. Remnants of construction camps remain along the trail, but are barely discernible. Part of the original trail was covered by the highway which was completed in 1950 and paved in 1954."

The Museum of West Louisiana is a complex of historic structures used to present the history and culture of Western Louisiana. The complex includes the 1917 Kansas City Southern Railroad Depot, a pioneer-style barn, shotgun house, circa 1850s dogtrot-style residence, and a railroad section house.

The museum offers exhibits.

"Exhibits at the Museum of Small Town Life emphasize society, commercial industry, trade, cost of living, occupations, and consumer goods utilized by the ordinary citizens of late 19th century Delaware small towns."

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this beach forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum traces over 100 years of surfing history as it relates to Santa Cruz. Visitors to the museum can enjoy a spectacular view of Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay while overlooking Steamer Lane, an internationally known surfing site. Museum displays include surf boards ranging from redwood "planks" to modern high-tech designs, early wetsuits, photographs showing Santa Cruz surfers and wave riding from the 1930s through today, and continuous videos illustrating surfing's ever-changing styles.

The museum offers exhibits and occasional recreational and educational events.

"The Oregon Historical Society's mission is preserving and interpreting Oregon's past in thoughtful, illuminating, and provocative ways."

"Wichita County Historical Society and the Museum of the Great Plains"

The Lyman Mission House was built in 1839 as the Hawaii residence of New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman. The home has been restored to period style, and is used to depict the lives and challenges of the Lymans. The neighboring museum presents Hawaiian history and culture through fine art pieces, other artifacts, and natural history exhibits. Exhibit topics include Hawaii climate zones, wildlife, minerals, shells, native tools and costume, Hawaiian royalty, sugar industry immigrants, and Chinese art. The site is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

The site offers period rooms, guided house tours, exhibits, guided house and museum tours for students, outreach programs for students, Elderhostel programs, and archive access. Appointments are required for archive access. All school groups must make reservations.

The Western North Carolina Air Museum presents historical aircraft in a hands-on setting. Original aircraft on site date from 1930 to 1949, within a period known as the Golden Age of General Aviation. Highlights include a Stearman N2S-4, SNJ-5 Texan, and Piper J2 and J3 Cubs.

The museum offers exhibits and docents ready to answer questions and share stories.

The Chesterwood Estate and Museum preserves the home, garden, and studio of sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). The home contains French's personal collection of European and American paintings and decorative arts, and the gardens are his own design. French is best known for his statue of Abraham Lincoln, located within the Washington D.C. Lincoln Memorial, and The Minute Man of Concord, MA. The site offers one of the largest collections of sculpture by any single artist within the United States. Exhibits discuss French's style, creative process, and historical context.

The estate offers period rooms, exhibits, gardens, walking paths, self-guided tours, guided tours, artist demonstrations and workshops, and picnic tables. Reservations are required for group visits and guided tours. Picnic lunches can be ordered three days in advance. Demonstrations and workshops take place in July through October. The estate is open for visitation between May and October.

The Josephine County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Josephine County, OR. To this end, the society operates the Schmidt House Museum and a research library. The Craftsmen-style Schmidt House was completed in 1910. Today the interior contains many pieces which once belonged to the daughters of the original owners. The museum houses exhibits on children's life, sewing, period kitchen work, the owner's circa 1900 grocery shop, and local historical topics. Oral interpretation uses the Schmidt family to discuss local homesteading, domestic life, business, farming, gold mining, and transportation.

The society offers exhibits, guided tours, living history outreach programs, research library access, and research assistance. A fee is charged for use of the library by non-members and for research conducted upon request.