National Archives and Records Administration: Pacific Region [CA]

Description

The National Archives and Records Administration is divided into numerous regional subdivisions—one of which is the Pacific Region. This region has three locations, all within the state of California—San Bruno, Laguna Niguel, and Perris. The San Bruno and Perris locations are open for public research.

Which Location?

The San Francisco/San Bruno location holds federal records from California, with the exception of the Southern portion of the state; Nevada, with the exception of Clark County; Hawaii; American Samoa; and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Topics with strong representative materials include environmental issues, Naval history, Native American history, and Asian-Pacific Immigration. Available records include photos, architectural drawings, and maps dating from the 1850s through the 1980s. The location offers occasional public programs.

The Perris/Riverside location holds federal and court records from Arizona; Clark County, Nevada; and southern California. Topics with strong representative materials include Naval history, Native American history, westward migration, civil rights, and Asian immigration. Materials date from approximately 1850 through the 1980s. This location also offers public programs.

Visitors are asked to call ahead, have an ID ready, and be willing to leave personal belongings in a locker.

Just for Students and Educators

Students are encouraged to visit to apply for internships, learn to find and use primary sources, and/or discover National History Day contests.

Educators may visit to learn of FREE educational resources, curriculum-specific primary sources, and/or National History Day.

Finally, if you teach grade four, five, seven, eight, eleven, or twelve in California, there's a fantastic resource available to you online.

Finally, if you teach grade four, five, seven, eight, eleven, or twelve in California, there's a fantastic resource available to you online. Teaching History in California selects state standards from each of these years, and provides related background information; primary sources; transcriptions; worksheets; PowerPoint presentations; additional documents, such as maps, timelines, and vocabulary lists; and/or teaching activities. Also, consider taking a moment to engage your students in an introductory activity on primary sources.

Fort Delaware Society and Museum [DE]

Description

The Fort Delaware Society operates the Fort Delaware Museum, Sutler Shop, and W. Emerson Wilson Research Library. Fort Delaware protected the Delaware River area between the War of 1812 and World War II. It is best known for its stint as a Civil War prison.

The society offers exhibits and archive and reading library access. The archives and library are open to the public between October and April.

Museum of Colquitt County History [GA]

Description

The Museum of Colquitt County History presents the history of Colquitt County, Georgia. Exhibit topics and displays include Native American artifacts, face jugs, a small scale Chickee dwelling, a Confederate memorial and artifacts, vernacular and home artifacts, 20th-century life, tobacco, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and education.

The museum offers exhibits and a high school self study course on the Confederacy. Tours are available outside of normal museum hours with advance notice.

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum [SC]

Description

The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum presents U.S. Naval and air history and technology via a collection of Navy vessels and World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and modern military planes. The USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier; 24 historical military aircraft; the USS Laffey, a World War II destroyer; the USS Clamagore, a Cold War Balao-class submarine; the USCGC Ingham, a World War II and drug bust cutter; a Congressional Medal of Honor exhibit; a Vietnam War Naval Support Base Camp replica; and the Cold War Submarine Memorial are all located on site.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, guided group tours, self-guided tours, a youth overnight program, curriculum-based history and science educational programs for students, scavenger hunts for students, youth leadership and history seminars, two snack bars, and food options in the mess hall. The mess hall only offers food between April and November. The USS Laffey, USS Clamagore, and USCGC Ingham offer little to no wheelchair accessibility. Groups must contain at least 15 paid visitors.

The USS Laffey is closed until further notice for repairs.

Harry S Truman Little White House [FL]

Description

The Harry S Truman Little White House has served as a naval station command headquarters of the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II; President Harry S Truman's Winter White House between 1946 and 1952; and a Cold War response site. The Little White House is a living museum. More than 4/5 of the current furnishings are original to the house's Truman period. Exhibits address the 1948 election, events of 1948, and the 14 presidents who have vacationed in Florida.

The site offers an introductory film, guided tours, tours for students, and self-guided botanical tour. Student tours have different themes depending on group tours, and are available for fourth graders and above. Tour scripts are available in Czech, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The website offers historic photographs.

Portland Harbor Museum [ME]

Description

The Portland Harbor Museum presents the maritime history of New England's Portland Harbor. Available topics for educational programming include Casco Bay lighthouses, the forts of Portland Harbor, 19th-century clipper ships, 19th-century Portland Harbor, modern Portland Harbor, and the liberty ships of World War II.

The museum offers exhibits, a standards-based curriculum, and customizable educational programs for students.

Mansfield Fire Museum and Educational Center [OH]

Description

The Mansfield Fire Museum and Educational Center presents fire service history. A reproduction circa 1900 fire station can be found on site. Collections include the area's original fire alarm bell, which fell out of use in 1925 and is said to have been rung to celebrate the defeat of the Japanese in World War Two on V-J Day, 1945.

The center offers exhibits, period rooms, and safety demonstrations.

Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial [PA]

Description

The Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial presents the military history of Pennsylvanians from the Civil War to the War on Terrorism, and commemorates the veterans and fallen of past and present military action. Exhibits include a wide range of wartime artifacts and artwork, including a comprehensive range of prosthetic limbs and military headgear. All military branches are represented.

The museum offers exhibits, one-hour or 270-minute guided educational tours, 150-minute guided educational tours with hands-on activities, outreach presentations, camps, and Scout programs. Tour topics include both World Wars, the Homefront, the Civil War, women and war, African Americans and war, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The website offers veteran and fallen solider listings.

Pender County Museum [NC]

Description

The Pender County Museum presents the history of Pender County, North Carolina. Collection highlights include a whiskey still, historical farming equipment, decorative arts pieces, World War II artifacts, and medical artifacts.

The museum offers exhibits, 41 oral history transcriptions from World War II veterans, and library access.

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum [TX] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:36
Description

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum presents the story of African American soldiers in the United States. An 1866 Congressional act created six African American Army units, two cavalry and four infantry. The high skill level of the 10th cavalry unit led to its members being known as Buffalo Warriors as early as 1867. Over time, the nickname spread; and came to refer to all African American soldiers.

The museum offers exhibits.