Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Description

The Museum tells the stories of 97 Orchard Street. Built on Manhattan's Lower East Side in 1863, this tenement apartment building was home to nearly 7,000 working class immigrants. They faced challenges people understand today: making a new life, working for a better future, starting a family with limited means. In recognizing the importance of this seemingly ordinary building, the Tenement Museum has reimagined the role that museums can play in modern lives.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and educational and recreational events.

Colorado Arts and Crafts Society [CO]

Description

The Colorado Arts and Crafts Society researches and promotes awareness of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Colorado (circa 1895-1920). Pride in personal workmanship is key to the Arts and Crafts Movement, instigated by philosopher John Ruskin and poet William Morris. The society is located within the 1917 Craftsman-style Boettcher Mansion.

The society offers tours, lectures, and educational programs.

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm [PA]

Description

The 100-acre Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm presents the daily life of the Pennsylvania German family who lived on the farm between the 1760s and 1913. A farmhouse, originally erected in the 1760s; spring house; cabin; replica circa 1893 schoolhouse; a circa 1850 barn; and nine other structures complete the site's outfit of buildings. Creatures and crops located on site include rabbits, horses, chickens, goats, mules, cows, sheep, pigs, turkeys, flax, wheat, corn, rye, and potatoes.

The farm offers guided tours, hands-on period skill learning, educational programs, home school programs, costumed living history interpreters, children's summer programs, workshops on historical crafts and skills, outreach programs, and a picnic pavilion. Outreach program options include a visit from one of the farm's sheep or chickens. The website offers pre-visit information for teachers, post-visit activities, a farm animal sponsorship program, and a virtual tour.

Van Buren County Historical Society and Museums [IA]

Description

The Van Buren County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Van Buren County, Iowa. To this end, the society operates 1845 Pearson House, a residence and Underground Railroad site, the second floor of which served as a Methodist Church; the 1847 Ellis School; the Keosauqua Log Cabin; the Selma Cabin; and the Historical Society Museum. The museum is housed in the circa 1875 Twombly Building, which previously served as a post office, bakery, grocery store, newspaper headquarters, and clothing store.

The society offers period rooms and exhibits.

Collier Memorial State Park [OR]

Description

Collier Memorial State Park has an outdoor camping focus but also has one of the finest Logging Museums in the country. The outdoor museum features more than 75 pieces of antique logging and railroad equipment as wells as a Pioneer village.

The outdoor museum offers free, self-guided tours. There are no educational programs designed for school groups. Wagon rides and costumed interpreters may be offered, check before making reservations.

Bannack State Park [MT]

Description

Bannack State Park is the site of Montana's first major gold discovery on July 28, 1862. This strike set off a massive gold rush that swelled Bannack's population to over 3,000 by 1863. As the value of gold steadily dwindled, Bannack's bustling population was slowly snuffed out. There are over 50 buildings that line Main Street with their historic log and frame structures that recall Montana's formative years.

A second website for the site can be found here.

The site offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park [AZ]

Description

The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park is located in the Tombstone, the seat of Cochise County. Built in 1882, the structure was designed in the Victorian style and once house the offices of the sheriff, recorder, treasurer, and board of supervisors, as well as the jail and courtrooms of Cochise County. Today, the structure serves as a museum of law enforcement in the wild west.

The courthouse offers guided tours and exhibits on law in the wild west and local history. The website offers visitor information, a calendar of events, and a history of the structure and of Tombstone.

MacGregor Ranch [CO]

Description

The MacGregor Ranch is one of the last working ranches and interpretive museums in Colorado. The Ranch and its museum showcase Colorado's cattle ranching history with collections ranging from antique farming equipment to family heirlooms from the MacGregor family.

The site offers tours of the museum and ranch buildings including the barn, as well as educational programs for school groups. At certain time of the year, school groups are able to see the ranch at work with educational activities involving live animals. Self-guided educational programs are also available.