Lancaster History [PA]

Description

Lancaster History was formed by the merging of the Lancaster County Historical Society and President James Buchanan's Wheatland, the latter of which is listed separately in this database. The organization seeks to preserve and share the history of Lancaster County, PA, in the context of state and national history. Particular emphasis is given to Buchanan. The society headquarters includes exhibits and a research library. The Tanger Aboretum, with 104 trees, is also located on the grounds.

The organization offers exhibits, research library access, guided site and walking tours, living history programs, outreach speakers, and an interactive outreach presentation for students. The website offers a collections search engine, genealogy guides, oral histories, virtual exhibits, and lesson plans.

New-York Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The New-York Historical Society presents American and U.S. history through artifacts and documents relevant to the history of New York City and state. Permanent exhibits include slavery in New York and visible open storage. Collection highlights include George Washington's inaugural chair, Benjamin Franklin's cane, watercolors by John James Audubon, Hudson River School landscapes, Tiffany lamps, and Abraham Lincoln's life mask.

The society offers exhibits, guided tours, customizable group tours, school visits, guided student workshops, outreach programs for students, interactive stations, audio tours, teen audio tours, written gallery guides, research library access, educator professional development opportunities, and a cafe. An appointment is required to access prints, photographs, or architectural records. No appointment is necessary to access manuscripts and general collections. Wheelchairs are available for use on site. American Sign Language interpreters are available for tours with at least three weeks advance notice. The website offers digital collections access.

Mark Twain House and Museum [CT]

Description

The Mark Twain House and Museum consists of the Hartford, CT property in which famed author Mark Twain (1835-1910) once lived. Changing exhibits provide social context for Mark Twain's literary works and the interpretation of his home. Twain is most widely recognized for his literary creations Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and his strong use of satire.

The house offers an introductory film, house tours, kitchen and servant wing tours, group tours, student tours, exhibits, curriculum-based student programs, concerts, and a cafe. Group and student tours must include 10 or more visitors, and be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Reservations are required for all groups planning to use the cafe, and box lunches can be ordered in advance by groups of 15 or more. The upper floors of the home are not wheelchair accessible. The website offers a family tree, word search, and crossword puzzle.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame [TX]

Description

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors courageous and independent women of America's western frontier, mid-19th century through present. Interactive exhibits include the opportunity to learn to saddle a full-scale pony model. Select other exhibits address arena sports, rodeo fashion, bronc riding, rodeo evolution, oral histories, ranching, cowgirl equipment, and cowgirls in dime novels and on the screen. The museum exterior features artworks by sculptor Mehl Lawson and painter Richard Haas.

The museum offers an 8-minute introductory film, other thematic films, interactive and traditional exhibits, interactive guided group tours, outreach speakers for students and adults, Western lifestyle workshops and courses, school tours, 45-minute distance learning programs for students, a traveling trunk, educator workshops, and research library access. Group tours must include 15 or more visitors, and be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Library access is by appointment only. Wheelchairs are available for use on site. The website offers activity suggestions for use in the classroom.

South River Museum--Old School Baptist Church [NJ]

Description

The South River Museum—Old School Baptist Church presents the history of South River, NJ. Exhibit topics include education, religion, everyday life, business, and local organizations and festivities. The area Baptist population erected the museum building in 1805 as a place of worship, and the church cemetery includes a memorial by sculptor John Frazee (born 1790).

The museum offers exhibits.

Hampton Historical Society [NH]

Description

The Hampton Historical Society of Hampton, NH is a local history organization with its own museum, the Tuck Museum. The Tuck Museum currently consists of many 20th century historical buildings including the Museum building, barn, beach cottage, schoolhouse, fire museum, well, and various monuments and markers. The collection contains period school equipment, antique fire-fighting tools, maps, photographs, painting, and other authentic local items.

The site offers group tours for school groups and customized educational programs for grades 1,2,3, and 8. Home-school activities are also available.

Madeline Island Museum [WI]

Description

The Madeline Island Museum presents the history of Madeline Island, WI and its people. An original 1835 American Fur Company building contains exhibits on Ojibwe life and the mixing of Native American, British, American, and French cultures instigated by the fur trade. Other exhibits address 19th-century trades and hand tools, 19th- and early 20th-century settler life, leisure and tourism, and Protestant and Catholic missionary activity. Other structures housing exhibits include a historic jail, an 1890s barn, and a home built in memory to a drowned sailor. Collection highlights include an 1862 Fresnel lens, religious texts translated into Ojibwe, a boat winch, and a maple-sugaring kettle. The grounds also include fortifications similar to those created by the French in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The museum offers films, exhibits, lectures, workshops, group tours, student tours, educational programs for third through fifth grade students, student tours of La Pointe village, and a fur trade traveling trunk. Group tours and field trips are available by appointment only. Group tours must be scheduled for mid-June through September, and field trips are offered in May and early June. The traveling trunk is available November through March.

Preservation Worcester [MA]

Description

Preservation Worcester seeks to preserve the material history, architecture, and culture of Worcestor, MA. The organization primarily functions as an advocacy association.

The organization offers a variety of one-hour bus and neighborhood walking tours; history presentations; a professional development program for educators; and a third grade program focusing on immigration, industrialization, and transportation. Reservations are required for tours.