Shaker Historical Museum [OH]

Description

The Shaker Museum is housed in a mansion overlooking Upper Shaker Lake. The museum exhibits a large collection of Shaker objects. Many are from North Union, a Shaker colony founded in 1822 and located in what is now the city of Shaker Heights. The museum also has a library with collections from both the 19th-century Shakers and 20th-century Shaker Heights. By 1850, North Union was a prosperous community of 200. At first it sold produce and handmade furniture to nearby communities. Cleveland's mass production industries eventually put them out of business. The colony disbanded in 1889.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, lectures, and research library access.

Vermilionville [LA]

Description

The Bayou Vermilion District preserves the Bayou Vermilion watershed, once considered one of the nation's most polluted waterways. Today, the District runs Vermilionville, a living history village recreating life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. The village encompasses 18 buildings, where interpreters demonstrate traditional music and crafts.

The District offers exhibits, demonstrations, tours for school groups (which may include bag or hot lunches), workshops, cooking classes, boat tours, and other recreational and educational events. The website offers visitor information, information about the Bayou Vermilion District, an events calendar, and information on current projects.

Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park [AZ]

Description

The Yuma Quartermaster Depot was used to store and distribute supplies for all military posts in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas. Currently, five of the original buildings remain on the park grounds, and four contain exhibits which show visitors the military history of the site and the history of the irrigation construction in the Yuma area in the early 20th century. The park also has a visitor's center and gift shop.

The site offers visitor information, a history of the park, a photo gallery featuring 20 photographs of the park and its exhibits, a "for kids'' section with information on kid's programs, an events calendar, and information on other area attractions.

Historic Fourth Ward School Museum [NV]

Description

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum is located in Comstock Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Permanent exhibit topics include area history, mining, the Fourth Ward School building, Virginia City Alumni, Mark Twain, and education in the 1870s.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, and a junior docent program. The website offers lesson plans.

Winchester Mystery House [CA]

Description

The Winchester Mystery House was built between 1884 and 1922 by Sarah Winchester, the noted Winchester Rifle heiress. The house is known both for its beautiful architecture and for its many unexplained oddities, which is the reason it is now known as the mystery house. Visitors to the home can explore 110 of its 160 rooms, view the many oddities, and marvel at the Victorian gardens. The house also is home to the Winchester Firearms Museum.

The house offers exhibits, period rooms, and gardens.

Erie Canal Museum [NY]

Description

The Erie Canal Museum was opened in 1962 in order to chronicle the history and culture of the Erie Canal. Presently, the museum offers exhibits on topics as varied as the history of Syracuse, the history of the canal, jobs on the canal, and taverns on the canal. Visitors to the museum can also take part in a variety of educational programs, including guided tours, online interactive activities, and lectures.

The site offers visitor information, a series of historical features, a listing of current exhibits, a small photo gallery featuring photographs of the Erie Canal Museum building, and an online museum shop.

Gaylordsville Historical Society [CT]

Description

The Gaylordsville Historical Society was first formed in 1967 as a reaction to the city's statement that it would be closing the Gaylordsville School. The school was the last one room schoolhouse operating in the state, and so a group of local citizens banded together in order to keep the school building from being demolished. Presently, the society continues to work to preserve and protect historical structures, resources, and artifacts relating to the history of Gaylordsville. The society operates the 1871 Brown's Forge, a blacksmith shop with working forge.

The society offers guided tours of Brown's Forge August Sunday afternoons. The site offers a history of Gaylordsville, a history of the historical society, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park [MA]

Description

The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is dedicated to showing the history of canals and their role in transportation between emerging industrial centers in the 19th century. Among the park's attractions are the Blackstone Canal itself, the Millville Lock, the Blackstone Gorge, and a variety of outdoor activities including camping and hiking.

The site offers historical and visitor information regarding the park, including detailed trail and topographical maps of the park and surrounding areas.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park [FL]

Description

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this park demonstrates the evolution of Florida farming from the 1850s to the mid-1940s—through three generations of the Dudley family. An authentic working farm, the homestead consists of 18 buildings, including the family farmhouse with original furnishings, an 1880s kitchen outbuilding, a general store and post office, and a functional cane syrup complex. Park staff in period clothing perform daily chores—raising crops and tending to livestock. The farm features seasonal cane grindings, corn shuckings, and heritage varieties of livestock and plants.

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

African American Firefighters Museum and Brown's Forge [CA]

Description

"The African American Fire Fighter Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, conserving and sharing the heritage of African American firefighters." The museum is located in old Fire Station 30, which has been named a Los Angeles Historical-Cultural site. The museum offers a variety of exhibits on firefighting and firefighting equipment, but focuses on the "Old Stentorians," firefighters who served during the periods of segregation and desegregation.

The site offers historical information regarding firefighting and black firefighters, an online listing of publications, and visitor information.