Manassas National Battlefield Park [VA]

Description

The Manassas National Battlefield Park is home of two pivotal early Civil War battles. The second battle was a resounding Confederate victory, which put the Confederacy at the height of their power. The battlefield can be toured individually, or with the help of a park ranger. The battlefield is also home to many interpretive events throughout the year.

The battlefield offers group tours, daily interpretive events, miles of trails, field trip programs, and presentations and exhibits in the battlefield's visitor center. The website offers visitor information, an events calendar, curriculum materials, and historical information.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park [MA]

Description

The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park presents the history of New Bedford, whaling capital of New England in the mid-19th century, and the trade itself. This is the only national park to focus on whaling and the whale oil industry. The park consists of a portion of New Bedford itself, the starting point for the fictional voyage chronicled in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, as well as the majority of American whaling expeditions. Voyages could last upwards of five years per voyage, but were crucial to providing whale oil to light the 1800s United States.

The park offers an introductory film; exhibits on area preservation, whaling, and commercial fishing; a guided tour; self-guided tours on whaling and on the Underground Railroad; and Junior Ranger activities. The park is partners with the following area institutions: the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum, Seamen's Bethel, Waterfront Visitor Center and Schooner Ernestina. Partner institutions offer more than 60 educational programs.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site [WA]

Description

The Whitman Mission was founded in present day Washington in 1836. The Mission was integrated tightly with the local Native American community. By the 1840s, the Whitman Mission had become an important stop for westward-bound immigrants, and in 1847 a wagon train brought measles to the mission. Unfortunately, while the white children recovered, the local Cayuse tribe was devastated. Shortly thereafter two Cayuse killed the Whitmans along with a dozen others, in what is known as the Whitman Massacre. The historical site contains a memorial to the Whitman Mission and dead Cayuse along with a visitor center where visitors can read about the history of the location and the early Pacific Northwest. Exhibits compare the lifestyle of the Whitmans and the Cayuse.

The site offers a 10-minute slide presentation, exhibits, outdoor activities, demonstrations for student groups, traveling trunks, Junior Ranger activities, and picnic shelters. The website offers in depth historical information regarding the mission, the Cayuse, and westward-bound emigrants. In addition, the site offers an events calendar, visitor information, craft instructions, and pre-visit activity suggestions. In order to contact the site via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Thomas Edison National Historic Site [NJ]

Description

The Edison National Historic Site consists of the home and laboratory of Thomas Edison, preserved as they were during the late 1800s.

The home offers tours, artifacts, and exhibits that showcase Edison's life and career.; it also offers videos for loan to educators. The website offers a biography of Edison, a history of the home, original phonograph recordings, visitor information, and a calendar of events.

Pecos National Historical Park [NM]

Description

Pecos National Historical Park "preserves 12,000 years of history including the ancient pueblo of Pecos, Colonial Missions, Santa Fe Trail sites, 20th century ranch history of Forked Lightning Ranch, and the site of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass. For several centuries the Upper Pecos Valley has been one of those rare places where the impact of geography on human experience is strikingly clear." The park is full of history, ranging from early American Indians to the Civil War in the west and Spanish settlement.

The park offers a 10-minute introductory film, exhibits in English and Spanish, guided tours, a one-mile trail, summer demonstrations, and Junior Ranger activities. Two weeks advance notice is required for all guided tours. The website offers detailed historical information regarding the park, as well as general visitor information. In order to contact the park via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Wilson's Creek National Battlefield [MO]

Description

"Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the scene of the death of Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in combat." The battlefield is in much the same condition as it was in 1861. In addition to the battlefield, visitors can explore the Wilson's Creek Civil War Museum, which holds an outstanding collection of artifacts relevant to the portion of the civil war fought west of the Mississippi River.

The battlefield offers trails, a 29-minute introductory film, exhibits, library access, and Junior Ranger activities. The site offers historical information regarding the battle and civil war, visitor information, a listing of exhibits and notable artifacts in the museum, and an events calendar. In order to contact the battlefield via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Fort Pulaski National Monument [GA]

Description

"The Battle of Fort Pulaski in April 1862 marked a turning point in military history. It featured the first significant use of rifled cannons in combat." In addition to surprising military strategists worldwide, the battle marked a major Union victory along the coast of Georgia. This was an immensely significant development towards the success of the Union naval blockade - one of the key points of the Civil War. The fort has been restored to its pre-Civil War condition, and offers a variety of interpretive and educational programs in order to show visitors what life was like in the fort during the Civil War prior to its fall.

The site offers detailed historical information regarding the fort, visitor information, an online version of the park newsletter, an events calendar, and an online bookstore. In order to contact the park by email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site [NY]

Description

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site is the site upon which Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as the nation's 26th president following the 1901 assassination of former president William McKinley. The site is notable as it is the location of one of very few inaugurations that was not performed in Washington, D.C. The location was the home of Ansley Wilcox, a friend of Theodore Roosevelt's. At the home, visitors can learn more about Theodore Roosevelt's past and his tenure as President of the United States.

The site offers detailed historic information, visitor information, an events calendar, and a section for educators with suggested reading material and information on the educational events offered by the national historic site. In order to contact the national historic site by email, use the "contact us" link on the left side of the webpage.

Fort Smith National Historic Site [AR]

Description

Fort Smith National Historic Site encompasses the remains of two forts, as well as the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas, the circa 1838 Commissary Building, and a reconstructed gallows. The original fort, Fort Smith, was in use between 1817 and 1824. The Commissary Building supplied food to troops stationed at the fort, and is currently furnished to its 1850s appearance. The visitor's center, located within the historic barracks, courthouse, and jail, contains the courtroom of Judge Parker and exhibits on the Trail of Tears, the federal court, and the military. The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee Creek, and Seminole walked the Trail of Tears from their ancestral homelands to Indian Territory, an area defined by the U.S. government. The fort served as training grounds for both Mexican War and Civil War soldiers. By 1872, the military compound was transformed into a courthouse and jail. It continued to function as such until 1896. Judge Isaac Parker (1838-1896) is the most famous of the judges who served at this courthouse. Known as the "Hanging Judge," during his 21 years at the fort Parker ordered the execution of 160 men. All of these convictions were for rape or murder, both of which, in the period following the Civil War, were federally required to be punished by death. Many of these cases involved acts of violence between European Americans and Native Americans. The site collections include over 225,000 artifacts.

The visitor's center offers exhibits, films, and period rooms. The Commissary Building offers period rooms. The site offers a walking trail with wayside exhibits on the Trail of Tears, Junior Ranger activities, educational programs, anniversary lectures on punishment and specific executions, in-service educator workshops, and outreach presentations. Reservations and at least two weeks notice is required for school groups. The website offers historic images, an interactive panoramic photograph, a webcam, an artifact of the month, a pre-visit PowerPoint presentation, teaching modules, lesson plans, videos for rental, photograph exhibits for rental, and word searches.