Fort Columbia State Park [WA]

Description

The Fort Columbia State Park preserves one of the few remaining intact coastal defense sites in the United States. The Fort was declared surplus at the end of WWII, and was immediately converted to a Washington state park. The park is also home to an interpretive center and a variety of nature related activities.

The park offers interpretive events, exhibits, hiking trails, and guided tours. The website offers a history of the park, a photo gallery, and visitor information.

Wynnewood [TN]

Description

Wynnewood is the largest extant log structure in Tennessee. It was built in 1828 by A. R. Wynne, William Cage, and Stephen Roberts as a stagecoach inn on the Nashville-Knoxville Road. In 1834, Wynne purchased his partners' interests and moved his family into the inn, where he resided until his death in 1893. Throughout Wynne's lifetime, guests were received at the house, attracted partially by the reputed medicinal powers of the mineral waters and the scenic beauty of the area. Today the spring waters still flow and visitors may see the site where Thomas Sharp ("Big Foot") Spencer spent the winter of 1778–79 in a hollow sycamore tree.

The site offers tours.

Berrien County Historical Association and The History Center at Courthouse Square [MI]

Description

The Berrien County Historical Association seeks to preserve and share the history of Berrien County, Michigan, founded in 1831. To this end, the society operates The History Center at Courthouse Square. Sights include the 1839 Court House, complete with reproduction furnishings and local history exhibits; two reconstructed jail cells; the circa 1830 Murdock Log House, also stocked with period furnishings; and Bennett's Forge, a working blacksmith shop.

The association offers exhibits, tours, student tours, a mock trial educational program for students, living history outreach programs for schools, lectures, and archives access. Please call ahead to schedule use of the archives, plan school visits, or request outreach programming. Outreach program options include talks by a Civil War soldier or French voyageur.

Historic Cherry Hill [NY]

Description

Historic Cherry Hill is a 1787 residence, occupied by the Van Rensselaer family until 1963. The site presents the changing culture, decorative arts, economic climate, and social classes of the 176 years in which the home was in use. The structure exists in its 1963 state in order to render social and architectural evolution visible to visitors. The Van Rensselaers were originally considered Hudson River manor lords, members of a group of wealthy local Dutch settlers. However, as early as the 1820s, the family began to face economic pressure which would increase with the formation of the millionaire class and the large numbers of immigrants entering the U.S. Collections include more than 20,000 artifacts—from the most mundane household items to rare examples of decorative arts styles—and 30,000 archival documents.

Cherry Hill offers period rooms; tours; interactive educational programs for students; and educational outreach programs for students. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Listening assistance devices are available. The website offers two teaching units for purchase. Both won awards from the American Association for State and Local History.

Tours and on site educational programs are currently unavailable, as the site undergoes restoration. Outreach programming is still available.

Justin Smith Morrill Homestead [VT]

Description

The Justin Smith Morrill Homestead preserves the Greek Revival cottage of John Smith Morrill (1810-1898). During his life, Morrill worked as a blacksmith, merchant's clerk, Representative, and U.S. Senator. Unable to finish school himself, Morrill became the chief sponsor of the 1862 Land Grant Act. The act provided for a college in each state which would teach skills not previously available in the higher education system—practical science, agriculture, and engineering. These colleges also offered more traditional studies. Morrill's hobbies included architecture and landscape design.

The homestead offers period rooms, tours, gardens, and access to Morrill's library. Please call ahead to verify admission hours. Appointments are required for library access. The website offers suggested reading and a video virtual garden tour.

Osborne Homestead Museum [CT]

Description

Adjacent to the rolling hills and open meadows of Osbornedale State Park, the recently renovated Osborne Homestead Museum encompasses the house and grounds of the former Frances Osborne Kellogg Estate. Originally constructed in the mid-1800s, the house was enlarged and completely remodeled in the Colonial Revival style during the 1920s. Its restored interior now displays the original contents of the estate, which constitutes a significant collection of antiques and fine arts.

The site offers tours, exhibits, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Napa Firefighters Museum [CA]

Description

The Napa Firefighters Museum presents the history of the Napa, California firefighting department. Collections include hydrants, extinguishers, firefighting toys, global firehouse images, an 1859 hand pumper, and early 1900s fire engines.

The museum offers exhibits. School tours are encouraged, and can be scheduled outside of normal admission hours.

March Field Air Museum [CA]

Description

The March Field Air Museum presents the history of air and space technology between 1918 to present, aviation accomplishments, and the March Field Air Base. The site displays over 70 historic aircraft and 2,000 artifacts. March Field was first used as a training field for World War I pilots, and the field functioned as a command base during World War II. Aircraft of note include a significant collection of World War II aircraft and the P-59, the first jet to be used by the U.S. Air Force.

The museum offers films, exhibits, a flight simulator, tours, mp3 audio tours, and a weekends-only food vendor. Tours can be arranged, given advance notice, for Spanish speaking or hearing impaired visitors. Advance notice is required for all group tours. Wheelchairs are available for use on site.

Fort Robinson Museum [NE]

Description

From Crazy Horse to the cavalry to the K-9 Corps, Fort Robinson played host to them all. Visitors to the site can experience the long and varied history of this outpost on the Plains. The museum at Fort Robinson is located in the 1905 post headquarters building. Museum exhibits trace the history from the post's role guarding the Red Cloud Agency (1874–77) through the housing of World War II German POWs (1943–46). Among the many fascinating objects in the museum's exhibits are the only known dog kennel from the K-9 Corps of World War II; marksmanship medals earned by Caleb Benson, a Buffalo Soldier at Fort Robinson between 1902 and 1909; and 19th-century Sioux objects related to the Red Cloud Agency. Visitors can explore more than a dozen historic structures and sites such as the 1904 blacksmith shop, the 1908 veterinary hospital, the 1887 officers' quarters, the 1875 guardhouse and adjutant's office, and the old post cemetery.

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