Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site [AZ]

Description

The Hubbell Trading Post was started in 1878 by John Lorenzo Hubball in order to serve the new Navajo Nation. The post is the oldest continuously operating trading post in Navajo Nation, and is operated today by the National Park Service. Since the trading post is still operating, visitors "will experience history first hand at Hubbell Trading Post NHS."

The site offer house tours, demonstrations, and Junior Ranger activities. The website offers brief historical and visitor information regarding the site. In order to contact the historic site via email, use the "contact us" 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.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park [CA] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:35
Description

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park presents the maritime history of the Pacific Coast. The visitor's center, within a 1908 cannery warehouse, discusses the ethnic diversity of the San Francisco area and displays a First Order Fresnel lighthouse lens. A variety of historic vessels and access to working boat builders are also available on site. Historic vessels include the 1886 square-rigger Balclutha, 1890 steam ferryboat Eureka, 1895 schooner C. A. Thayer, 1891 scow schooner Alma, 1907 steam tug Hercules, 1914 paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall, and circa 1890 Bay Ark, as well as 6 small craft including a replica Chinese shrimp junk.

The park offers interactive exhibits, information panels, films, ranger-led interpretive programs, tours, sail raising demonstrations, Junior Ranger activities, and a research library. Tours are available on the pier, the Balclutha, the Eureka, and the Hercules. The library is open by appointment only. The website offers videos and a virtual tour, pre- and post-visit activities, curriculum materials, and other activities.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park [LA]

Description

The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park presents the history of the people and places most crucial to New Orleans' jazz legacy. Key figures include Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong (1900-1971), Charles "Buddy" Bolden (1877-1931), "Papa Jack" George Vetiala Laine (1873-1966), and Sidney Bechet (1897-1959).

The park offers demonstrations, talks, live music, documentary films, two mp3 audio tours of the city, and lectures.

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site [VA]

Description

The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site consists of the 1883 home in which Walker resided between 1904 and 1934. The furnishings are original to the family, and the home is located in the community of Jackson Ward, the center point of African American business and social life in Richmond, Virginia circa 1900. Born just 2 years after the Civil War, she overcame the ethnic and gender limitations of society to become the first woman in the United States to charter a bank. Despite the low social status afforded to her as an African American during her time, Walker additionally ran a newspaper, greatly enhanced the scope of the Order of St. Luke, and eventually served as a bank president.

The site offers exhibits, hands-on activities and traveling trunks tailored to educational standards, guided tours, and Junior Ranger activities. Reservations are required for tours involving 10 or more people. The website offers a gallery of more than 100 historic photographs.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site [MT]

Description

Once the headquarters of a 10-million-acre cattle empire, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is a working cattle ranch that commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history. Among the original buildings on the site are the historic ranch house, the bunkhouse, the blacksmith shop, horse barns, and cattle sheds. The main ranch house was built by Johnny Grant (1831–1907) in 1862. It was a trading post downstairs and a residence upstairs. In 1866 he sold the ranch to Conrad Kohrs (1835–1920) who became known as the "Cattle King" in Montana. Site collections number 23,000-plus artifacts, consisting of everyday objects once used by the people who lived and worked at this ranch from the 1860s to the 1960s. Highlights include historic wagons and buggies.

The site offers exhibits, walking trails, self-guided tours, guided wagon and house tours, a variety of themed talks, period rooms, ranger-led in-classroom presentations, a traveling trunk, archives accessible by appointment, and an annual teacher workshop. The website offers lesson plans geared towards Montana educational standards, photo galleries, and a video on the use of a beaverslide hay stacker.

Rock Creek Park [DC]

Description

The Park includes the Peirce Barn and Mill and Old Stone House. Peirce Barn and Mill were built in the 1820s, and operated commercially until 1897. The U.S. Government acquired the mill as part of Rock Creek Park in 1892. The Old Stone House, one of the oldest known structures remaining in the nation's capital, is a simple 18th-century dwelling built and inhabited by common people.

NOTE: The Peirce Mill is currently closed for restoration.

The site offers tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events; the Old Stone House offers tours; the Peirce Barn offers tours.

General Grant National Memorial [NY] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:34
Description

General Grant National Memorial, or Grant's Tomb, is not only the final resting place of Union General Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), but a memorial to his life and accomplishments. It is also the largest tomb in North America. Grant served in both the Mexican and Civil Wars, and was the first full General of the Armies. His leadership confirmed victories in the Battles of Vicksburg and Chattanooga, as well as Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. A grateful nation twice elected Grant to serve as President of the United States, from 1869 to 1877. Grant's accomplishments include signing the act establishing the first national park, Yellowstone, on March 1, 1872.

The memorial offers daily interpretive programs, guided tours, an introductory talk, curriculum materials, and a variety of standards-based educational programs for specific grade levels.