Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park [FL]

Description

More than eight centuries ago, Native Americans inhabited the area around Lake Jackson. The park site was part of what is now known as the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex. Today, it encompasses six earthen temple mounds and one possible burial mound. The largest mound is 278 feet by 312 feet at the base and approximately 36 feet in height. Artifacts of pre-Columbian societies have been found here including copper breastplates, necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and cloaks. Visitors can enjoy a short hike past the remains of an 1800s grist mill or picnic on an open grassy area near the largest mound.

The park offers tours and exhibits.

Tryon Palace [NC]

Description

The grounds of this site include several historic structures, including the Tryon Palace, the George W. Dixon House, the Stanly House, the Robert Hay House, and the New Bern Academy. Tryon Palace was originally built between 1767 and 1770, as the first permanent capitol of the Colony of North Carolina and a home for the Royal Governor and his family. Josiah Martin, the second royal governor to live in the Palace, fled in May of 1775 at the beginning of the American Revolution. Patriots made the Palace their capitol and the first sessions of the General Assembly met there to begin designing a free and independent state. Four state governors used the Palace: Richard Caswell, Abner Nash, Alexander Martin, and Richard Dobbs Spaight. The George W. Dixon House was built in the early 1830s for George W. Dixon, a merchant tailor and one-time mayor of the city of New Bern. The Stanly House was built in the early 1780s for John Wright Stanly, a prominent New Bern citizen. John Hawks, the architect who designed Tryon Palace, may have designed the Stanly House as well. Built of hand-hewn longleaf pine, the Stanly House remains one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the South. The Robert Hay House, built in the first decade of the 19th century, is modest by comparison to other homes on the Palace complex. Robert Hay, a Scottish immigrant and wagon maker, bought this Federal-style wood frame townhouse in 1816, the same year he married Nancy Carney, and resided there until his death in 1850, at the age of 96. Today, it functions as a "living history" museum. Visitors get a firsthand feel for life in 1835 by talking with character interpreters who portray Hay household members and neighbors, and by hands-on experiences with the reproduction furnishings of this "Please Touch" museum. The New Bern Academy was the first school in North Carolina to be established by law; the legislative assembly incorporated it in 1766. Fire destroyed the original building in 1795. The present building was constructed between 1806 and 1809, and served as a school until 1971, making it one of the oldest continuously used school buildings in America. Today, it serves as a museum of local history.

The sites offer a short video, exhibits, tours, demonstrations, performances, and educational and recreational events (including living history events).

Mare Island Historic Park Foundation [CA]

Description

David Glasgow Farragut founded the Mare Island Shipyard in 1854, and the Navy closed the yard in 1996. During that period, over 500 ships, including nuclear submarines, were built at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The Foundation cares for four of the most historic buildings in Mare Island's National Historic Landmark District. These include St. Peter's Chapel (built 1901), renowned for its Tiffany-designed stained glass windows; Quarters "A" (built 1900), largest (10,500 square feet) of the 13 colonial revival mansions; Quarters "B," a mansion of 7,400 square feet also called the "Captain's Mansion;" and Building 46 (built 1855), originally a smithery, then the pipe shop, now the Artifacts Museum.

The foundation offers tours and occasional workshops and classes; Building 46 offers exhibits.

El Camino Real International Heritage Center [NM]

Description

The newest State Monument tells the fascinating story of more than three centuries of trade and commerce that traversed the trail, linking Spain, Mexico, and the United States at a time when mules, trains, and horses were the only means of land travel. The award-winning building is set amidst the pristine Chihuahuan Desert north of the Jornada del Muerto and houses an exhibit that takes visitors on a virtual journey along the historic trail from Zacatecas, Mexico to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visitors can discover the indigenous people encountered by the Spanish and the impact the arrival of the Spanish had on the formation of New Mexico. Remnants of the early journey remain today in hand-hewn carts, tools, leather water jugs, and religious altars and objects that accompanied the travelers into the northern territory. Visitors experience the journeys of Native Americans, Spaniards, and Mexicans; the military fort period; and the first Anglo settlers from the Eastern United States, through first-person stories and the art and objects they brought with them.

A second website, maintained by the El Camino Real International Heritage Center Foundation, can be found here.

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

Northwest Railway Museum [WA]

Description

The Museum displays exhibits in the turn-of-the-century Snoqualmie Depot, incorporating displays interpreting the purpose and function of a train station with outdoor displays of restored railway equipment. It also operates an Interpretive Railway Program called the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. This five-mile common carrier railroad allows museum visitors to experience a train excursion aboard antique railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley.

The museum offers exhibits, train rides, educational programs, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events

Los Angeles Conservancy [CA]

Description

The Los Angeles Conservancy is dedicated to the recognition, preservation, and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage of greater Los Angeles. THe group offers fun activities for adults and kids alike, including youth and family docent-led and self-guided walking tours. They also provide several kids’ guides to historic places in Los Angeles, activities for teachers, parents, and kids, and additional resources to explore the history of L.A.

Visit the website for more information about kids' guides, lesson plans and activities for teachers that adhere to California teaching standards.

Seneca Falls Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Society's Museum is located in a structure dating back to 1823. The building was part of a 10-acre estate with carriage house, tool shed, vineyard, garden, and orchard. The Mynderse Family lived there until 1875 when Mrs. Leroy Partridge purchased the house and began an extensive remodeling and updating that changed the two story dwelling into the three-story, 23-room, Queen Anne style home that stands today. The original Gothic Revival tool shed is now the "Bee Hive," a replica of a general store , located behind the house. Also located in the back yard is the Town Clock that was once on top of the Hoskins Block and moved to the grounds by Texaco Oil in October 1968. The first floor of the Museum shows a combination of the original furnishings of the house as the Partridge and Becker families lived here, as well as reproductions and decorations both complimentary to the time period and from historical events in Seneca Falls.

The society offers occasional recreational and educational events; the museum offers exhibits and research library access.

Central Insurance Fire Museum [OH]

Description

Central Insurance started out in 1876 as a fire insurance company. The threat of a disastrous fire was always very real and the equipment used to fight fire primitive. F. W. "Bill" Purmort, Jr., President of Central from 1964 to 1994, first took an interest in collecting fire equipment in 1969. He gradually built Central's museum into one of the finest privately owned collections in the U.S. The museum exhibits a collection of leather fire buckets dating back to the 1700s; over 600 antique fire toys consisting of cast-iron, rubber, glass, tin, and wood construction; a large display of fire extinguishers and glass fire "grenades" dating from the 1850s; a rare and valuable collection of "firemarks" dating back to 1720; a wardrobe of antique fireman helmets and uniforms; Van Wert's first hand-drawn pumper used in 1871; an Ahrens horse-drawn steam pumper which was purchased new in 1907 by the city of Van Wert and restored by Central; and a 1926 Ahrens-Fox pumper, the Rolls Royce of firetrucks.

The museum offers exhibits and tours.

Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum [IN]

Description

In this reconstructed 1893 firehouse, the public is shown how the Fort Wayne Fire Department developed from a volunteer department (1839–1882) to an organization of paid professionals (1882–present). This history is traced from the use of hand pumpers and neighborhood volunteers through the development of the steamers and paid firefighters right up to the present-day firefighters. Almost all of the artifacts in the museum were once used by the Fort Wayne Fire Department. Most were graciously donated to the Museum by present and former firefighters or their families in the hopes that future generations can fully understand just how far the fire service has come in the last century and a half.

The museums offers exhibits and tours.