Bollinger Mill State Historic Site [MO]

Description

The 19th-century mill and its neighboring covered bridge offer a glimpse of now-rare Americana that once might have been expected around many turns in a Missouri road. The present mill, dating to the Civil War period, is a massive four-story stone and brick building where visitors can still observe corn being ground into meal by water power—just as it was done long ago. The succession of three mills that have stood on this site represent more than 200 years of milling history. The Burfordville Covered Bridge standing alongside stretches its 140-foot span across the Whitewater River, which powers the mill. Begun in 1858, it is the oldest of only four remaining covered bridges in Missouri.

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

Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum

Description

The museum collects, preserves, interprets, and displays historical and cultural materials related to the westward expansion, to Wyoming pioneers in particular, and to the west in general. Today, the 15,900-square-foot facility consists of the main building as well as the original cabin, two school houses, a rebuilt gristmill, and a shelter. The collections include pioneer and ranching memorabilia, textiles, and an extensive Native American artifact and decorative art display.

A second website for the museum can be found here.

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

Louisiana State Museum - Patterson

Description

The Louisiana State Museum - Patterson is the official state aviation and cypress sawmill industry museum and houses two important collections documenting state history.

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection focuses on the legacy of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams who formed an air service in Patterson in 1928. Both men became nationally prominent during what was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Although both Wedell and Williams perished in plane crashes, their legacy lives on in the memorabilia and planes on display.

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana. Lumbering became the state's first significant manufacturing industry. As a result, cypress lumber harvested and milled in Louisiana was shipped in mass quantities across the United States. The town of Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams, and in 1997 the Louisiana State Legislature designated Patterson as the cypress capitol of Louisiana. The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, photographs, and film that tell the story of this important regional industry.

In addition, the museum also has a changing exhibit gallery that highlights other aspects of Louisiana's culture and history, and provides school tours and accompanying enhanced curriculum guides.

Mission Mill Museum [OR]

Description

Mission Mill Museum interprets the history of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill which produced wool products from 1889 to 1962 and represents one of Oregon's earliest and strongest industries. Mission Mill also interprets the history of Jason Lee's Methodist Mission to Oregon which settled in the Willamette Valley in 1834 before the major Oregon Trail migrations. The missionaries brought formal education, industry, and large scale agriculture and advocated for U.S. government in the Oregon country. The Museum preserves Mission houses; an Oregon Trail settler's house; a historic church; and the structures, equipment, and original water-powered turbine of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill with related artifacts. The museum's two histories are shared with visitors through individual and group tours, interpretation, speakers, living history, children's programs, hands-on activities, and special events.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, workshops, educational programs, and recreational and educational events.

Gilbert Stuart Birthplace [RI]

Description

The Birthplace serves as a showplace for reproductions of the works of one of America's foremost portrait painters and as an authentically restored and furnished workingman's home and the site of the first snuff mill in America. The wooded homestead on the banks of the Mattatuxet Brook also features a partially restored grist mill and a fish ladder. In spring the ladder is packed with migrating herring, swimming furiously to reach the pond above the mill dam. The grist mill houses the original fine-grained granite stones used to grind corn for the famous Rhode Island Johnny Cakes.

The site offers tours and occasional recreational and educational events.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park [FL]

Description

This site was once part of a thriving sugar plantation owned by David Levy Yulee. Yulee was a member of the Territorial Legislative Council, and served in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate after Florida statehood. The park contains the remnants of the once-thriving 5,100-acre sugar plantation: a 40-foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears, and a cane press. The steam-driven mill operated from 1851 to 1864 and served as a supplier of sugar products for southern troops during the Civil War.

The park offers tours and educational programs.

Plumas-Eureka State Park [CA]

Description

Plumas-Eureka State Park provides visitors with a glimpse into a fascinating period of California history, as well as opportunities for quiet recreation in a high Sierra mountain setting. The focal point of the park is the museum building and historic area surrounding it. Originally constructed as the miner's bunkhouse, the museum now serves as a visitor center. Inside, displays depict the natural and cultural history of the park. Outside and across the street from the museum is the historic mining area, where the Mohawk Stamp Mill, Bushman five-stamp mill, stable, mine office, Moriarity House (historic miner’s residence), and the blacksmith shop depict life in gold rush-era California.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.

Double Trouble State Park and Historic Village [NJ]

Description

Originally a cranberry farm and packing plant, the former company town called Double Trouble is a window into past and current industries in the Pinelands. The Double Trouble Company was formed to sell timber, millwork products, and cranberries. A succession of sawmills has been on site since the mid-1700s. The village consists of cranberry bogs and 14 original historic structures dating from the late 19th century through the early 20th century including a general store, a schoolhouse and cottages.

The site offers tours.

Mammoth Spring State Park [AR]

Description

Mammoth Spring, the 10th largest spring in the world, and a National Natural Landmark, flows nine million gallons of water each hour. Following the Civil War, this immense water source attracted industrialists who built a gristmill, and later, a dam here. Next, the investors opened large roller mills and a shoe factory. Soon after, the railroad arrived. Still standing near the spring is the charming 1886 Frisco Depot. At the dam, you can walk through the 1925 power plant that brought electricity to the region long before most other rural areas.

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

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park [AR]

Description

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is recognized as one of America's most intact Civil War battlefields. The park has a museum and a collection of early Ozark buildings to tour, and interprets the effects of the Civil War on the civilian population in this area. The park protects the battle site and interprets the Battle of Prairie Grove, where on December 7, 1862, the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi clashed with the Union Army of the Frontier in a day of fierce fighting.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).