National World War One Museum [MO]

Description

The National World War One Museum presents World War I both prior to and during U.S. involvement. Exhibits include general chronology, large-scale settings, thematic displays, and study centers. Highlights include a Renault FT17 World War I tank, displaying the damage that it took in battle, and examples of shell art. A memorial is also located on site. The museum seeks to inspire reflection on values, ethics, responsible decisions, and resolution of conflict, as relevant throughout time.

The site offers a 12-minute introductory video, environmental audio, traditional and interactive exhibits, an open-air observation deck, a cafe, and research center access. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance for school groups. Students may eat bag lunches on the lawn or order box lunches at least one week in advance. Appointments are necessary to use the research center.

San Diego Air and Space Museum [CA]

Description

The Museum provides visitors with a journey through the history of flight. Visitors may stand beneath a model of the Montgolfier brothers' hot air balloon of 1783—the first manned vehicle in recorded history to lift man above the Earth. They can view specimens of aircraft from World War I, or marvel at the antics of the barnstormers of the 1920s. Mint condition aircraft help visitors appreciate the increasingly complex technology represented in the classic military aircraft of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and exhibits on space flight project aeronautics into the future.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, research library access, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Old City Cemetery and Museums [VA]

Description

The Old City Cemetery is the oldest public cemetery in Virginia, in continuous operation since 1806. The site includes the Mourning Museum, Pest House Medical Museum, Hearse House and Cemetery Caretaker's Museum, Station House, and Chapel and Columbarium. The Station House is furnished in a circa World War I style. The Hearse House contains a circa 1900 hearse and a variety of cemetery caretaker tools. The Mourning Museum presents 19th- and 20th-century mourning attire, jewelry, and etiquette, as well as the history of coffins and embalming. Topics relevant to the site include horticulture, symbolism, ironwork, Civil War medicine, mourning practices of the Victorian era, railways, African American history, the founding of Lynchburg, women, archaeology, and local disasters. The cemetery has been in use since 1806.

The cemetery offers self-guided tours; period rooms; exhibits; Mourning Museum tours; interior tours of the Pest House, Hearse House, Station House, and Chapel; audio tours; customizable guided cemetery tours; and wayside signs. Appointments are required for interior tours of the Pest House, Hearse House, Station House, and Chapel, as well as for guided cemetery tours. The website offers lesson plans, brief descriptions of notable figures interred on site, a virtual African American history tour, and brief informative articles.

Baxter County, Arkansas, Historical and Genealogical Society

Description

The Baxter County, Arkansas, Historical and Genealogical Society preserves and shares the history of Baxter County, Arkansas. To this end, the society operates an archive. Collections include school records, military uniforms, photographs, railroad artifacts, Native American artifacts, historical hospital equipment, court records, genealogical records, and store records.

The society offers archival access.

Kona Historical Society [HI]

Description

The Kona Historical Society's Coffee Living History Farm is typical of a Japanese coffee pioneer's life in Hawaii during the period between 1920 and 1945. Crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts are still grown and farm animals such as donkeys and chickens are part of the farm experience. A coffee mill is still used to grind the coffee grown on the farm and the product is in the historic General Store.

A 75-min village walking tour is offered as well as hands-on activities such as clothes washing, bread-making, coffee grinding, etc. are offered to give students an idea of the labor involved in running a farm. Interpretive performances can be performed in schools and outreach trunk shows are offered for in-class presentations. Teacher resources are sold by the society for a minimal charge.

John G. Neihardt State Historic Site [NE]

Description

Visitors to this site can discover the story of John G. Neihardt, Nebraska's Poet Laureate and author of Black Elk Speaks. John G. Neihardt called Bancroft, Nebraska home from 1900 to 1920. Visitors can see the study where the famous poet wrote many of his works or visit the interpretive center and walk in the Sioux Prayer Garden. Among the many objects on exhibit in the memorial room are items Lakota Holy Man Black Elk gave to Neihardt over the course of their friendship, including the sacred hoop of the world, a drum, and a pipe. The Neihardt Center has a library of secondary sources exploring Neihardt's life and legacy available to researchers for inhouse use.

The site offers exhibits, tours, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Danbury Museum and Historical Society [CT]

Description

The Danbury Museum and Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of New England. Particular emphasis is given to that of Danbury, Connecticut. The Danbury Museum includes the circa 1785 John and Mary Rider House, circa 1790 Dodd Hat Shop, Marian Anderson Studio, and Charles Ives Birthplace. Additional exhibits and a research library are located within Huntington Hall. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an internationally recognized contralto, while Charles Ives (1874-1954) is known for his career as a Modernist composer.

The society offers exhibits, summer camps, and research assistance. Fees are charged for research conducted on request. The library is only accessible to museum members.

Linwood Historical Society and Museums [NJ]

Description

The Linwood Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Linwood, New Jersey. To this end the society operates the Leedsville School Museum and the Jim Kirk Maritime Museum. Built in 1873, the Leedsville School has served as a school, city hall, and public library. Today, it hosts a museum of local history. Collection highlights include the original school bell and a 45 star flag. The maritime museum presents oystering and clamming tools, shipwright tools, and ship models.

The museums offer traditional and hands-on exhibits. The website offers historical photographs.

Rebel State Historic Site [LA]

Description

The Rebel State Historic Site contains the Louisiana Country Music Museum, which traces the evolution of string bands, country music, and gospel. The museum also honors and presents memorabilia and artifacts of Louisianans who became well-known country and gospel music performers. Collection highlights include Roy Acliff's fiddle. An amphitheater hosts musical events. The site's name derives from a local legend in which a young Confederate officer, separated from his unit, was killed. According to the tale, he was buried on site.

The site offers exhibits, concerts, an outdoor classroom, educational programs, tours, and picnic areas.

Hardin County Museums [OH]

Description

The museums of Hardin County, OH, include the Hardin County Historical Museum, a museum of local history, and the turn-of-the-century Hardin Historic Village and Farm. The village consists of the Staadt Log House, general store, Beech Grove one-room schoolhouse, and the Ada Railroad Building, as well as exhibits of historic agricultural equipment. Exhibits within the Hardin County Historical Museum address Native American life, Kenton toys, and the fine arts, among other topics.

The museum is open January through March, and offers exhibits and group tours. The farm is open May through September by appointment only, and offers exhibits.