San Juan Island National Historical Park [WA]

Description

San Juan Island National Historical Park preserves and protects nearly 1,800 acres on San Juan Island, including prairies, lagoons, forests, and mountains, and more than six miles of saltwater shoreline. Under the park's protective watch are seven historic structures dating to the 1860s and a rich archaeological resource of prehistorical and historical objects, as well as habitats rich with plants and animals. In addition, from 1859 through 1872, Great Britain and the United States jointly occupied San Juan Island while the water boundary between the two nations was settled. During this time, the "pig war," a dispute which nearly escalated to war, occurred. In 1872, Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany, given the right to choose ownership of the island, determined that it would become a U.S. possession, officially creating the boundary between the U.S. and Canada. San Juan Island National Historical Park tells the story of the island through the British and American camp sites, during the joint occupation and the years prior, inclusive of island prehistory.

The park offers exhibits, pig war traveling trunks and curriculum, self-guided walks, ranger-led talks and tours, reenactments, and demonstrations.

Fort Scott National Historic Site [KS]

Description

Fort Scott National Historic Site presents resources related to the opening of the West, the Permanent Indian Frontier, the Mexican American War, Bleeding Kansas, the Civil War, and the expansion of railroads. The site consists of 20 historic structures (11 open to the public), three separate exhibit areas, 31 rooms furnished as they might have been in the 1840s, a parade ground, and five acres of restored tallgrass prairie. The fort was established in 1842 to protect the Permanent Indian Frontier and housed soldiers until 1853, after which point it became the nucleus of a growing town. The site focuses on the years between 1842 and 1873.

The site offers a 12-minute audiovisual orientation; exhibits; guided and self-guided tours for school groups; exhibits; in-classroom speakers; and on-site educational programs for school groups, including self-guided scavenger and history hunts (available online), interpreters in period dress, interactive activities, pre- and post-visit materials (available online), student roleplaying, and plays.

Tupelo National Battlefield [MS]

Description

The Tupelo National Battlefield marks the location of the Battle of Tupelo, the second battle in northeast Mississippi designed exclusively to keep Gen. Nathan Forrest in Mississippi and away from Gen. Sherman's forces in northern Georgia. While the battle itself was indecisive, Gen. Forrest himself was injured, and thus the battle represented a great strategic victory for the Union.

The battlefield offers exhibits at the Natchez Trace Parkway visitor center, as well as ranger-led tours of the battlefield. The website offers historical information regarding the battle as well as basic visitor information.

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site [KS]

Description

The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site commemorates the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case, which ended legal segregation in the public school system. The site is located within one of four former African American elementary schools, the Monroe Elementary School. The school has been restored to a 1954 appearance. Permanent exhibits address relevant people, places, and events; the feelings of being subjected to discrimination; and the impact of the case. Computer consoles invite visitors to share their own experiences.

The site offers a ranger-led orientation, a 25-minute introductory film, interactive and traditional exhibits, 90-minute tours for students, outreach presentations for students, distance learning programs, Junior Ranger activities, and access to a non-circulating research library. Picnic tables are located in the nearby Cushinberry Park. Access to the library is by appointment only. The website offers historical photographs, an interactive activity, scavenger hunt worksheets for third grade through high school, an electronic field trip, a DVD and teacher's guide, Teaching with Historic Places lesson plans, a web quest, children's activities, and a curriculum kit.

Governors Island National Monument [NY]

Description

The Governors Island National Monument presents the history of Governors Island, New York. The island started as a colonial outpost in 1776, and last served as an U.S. Army and Coast Guard regional administrative center until 1996.

The monument offers 90-minute guided walking tours, children's programs, lectures, living history events, and Junior Ranger activities. Visitors are welcome to bring picnic lunches. The website offers Web Ranger activities.

Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site [AL]

Description

The Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is located on Tuskegee University. Sights include the George W. Carver (circa 1864-1943) Museum and The Oaks, Booker T. Washington's (1856-1915) home. Other figures honored include Dr. Frederick W. Patterson (1901-1988), founder of the United Negro College Fund, and Dr. Robert Moton, who stressed the need for health care for African American veterans. Carver is known for his support of the peanut as an alternative to the southern cotton crop, which had been ravaged by the boll weevil. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, later the Tuskegee Institute, to provide education to African American students. Due to the strength of the aeronautical engineering program at the institute, the site was selected by the military to train African American pilots for World War II.

The site offers exhibits, interpretive programs, 30-minute introductory films on George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, guided tours of The Oaks, period rooms, tours of the historic Tuskegee University, and 2-hour curriculum-based programs. Reservations are required for curriculum-based programs. The Oaks is not fully wheelchair accessible. Films can be played with captions.

Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site [MS]

Description

The Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site commemorates the site of the battle of Brices Cross Roads in 1863. Although the battle was a resounding Confederate victory, the battle hurt the Confederacy in the long run, as it allowed General Sherman uninterrupted supplies for his campaign in Georgia.

The park offers exhibits in the visitor center located several miles from the park, along with a self-guided tour and interpretive signs at the battlefield. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of the battlefield.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park [OH]

Description

The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park celebrates the history and accomplishments of Wilber Wright (1867-1912), Orville Wright (1871-1948), and Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). Other topics addressed include changes in Air Force aviation technology. Sights include two interpretive centers; the Wright brothers' printing office, styled to period; a Wright brothers' bicycle shop; the brothers' third airplane, built in 1905; the Huffman Prairie Flying Field; and Dunbar's final residence. The Wright brothers are best known for creating the world's first successful airplane, while Dunbar was an African American poet celebrated for his 1896 poem "Lyrics of a Lowly Life."

The park offers two introductory films; exhibits; period rooms; guided tours of the Wright Cycle Company building, Wright-Dunbar Village, and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field; guided bicycle tours; children's programs; curriculum-based educational programs; and Junior Ranger activities. Tours of the Wright Cycle Company building are available on request only, and reservations are required for groups. Reservations are required for all school programs. The website offers an interactive timeline.

Andersonville National Historic Site [GA]

Description

The Andersonville National Historic Site has a three-fold mission—namely, operation of the National Prisoner of War Museum; care of the Andersonville National Cemetery; and preservation of Camp Sumter, also known as Andersonville prison. Camp Sumter was among the largest Civil War prisons established by the Confederacy, and housed more than 32,000 Union soldiers in 1864. At that time, more than 100 men died on an average day in the camp. The National Prisoner of War Museum honors the U.S. men and women who have suffered as prisoners of war. The Andersonville National Cemetery originally served as the burial grounds of Union soldiers who died in Camp Sumter. Today, the cemetery is an active site for veteran burials.

The site offers a curriculum-based educational program for students, educational resource packages for rental, a 3-mile self-guided hike with a questionnaire, Junior Ranger activities, exhibits, and a summer camp. The educational program focuses on the prison at Camp Sumter; and meets Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama educational standards. The educational program must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.

Fort Davis National Historic Site [TX]

Description

The Fort Davis National Historic Site consists of a surviving frontier Indian Wars fort, used between 1854 and 1891. The soldiers of the fort sought to protect travelers along the San Antonio-El Paso Road and the Chihuahua Trail from Native American attack. The Comanche and Apache peoples proved to be the greatest concern for the fort. Five structures on site have been returned to their 1880s appearances, and are fully furnished. Visitors can also explore 20 other buildings and more than 50 ruins.

The site offers a 15-minute introductory film, period rooms, self-guided tours, one- to three-hour educational programs, costumed interpreters, audio programming, Junior Ranger activities, traveling trunks, hiking trails, and a picnic site. Junior Ranger activity booklets are available in large print and in braille. Reservations are required for school groups. The website offers curricula.