Historic Brattonsville [SC]

Description

Historic Brattonsville consists of the Bratton farm, which has been carefully restored and now serves as a historic house musum and living history center. Historic Brattonsville preserves the history of the farm from its role in the revolutionary war through its days as a large, rural farm run by slave labor. The museum also has a special focus on African American history.

Historic Brattonsville offers exhibits, guided tours, field trip activities, children's activities, and occasional special events such as family days and presentations. The website offers visitor information, a history of the farm, an events calendar, and information regarding the programs offered by the farm.

The University of Akron Hower House [OH]

Description

The Hower House was completed in 1871. Designed in the Second Empire Italianate style, the floor plan of the home would become known as the Akron Sunday School Plan, as it would be featured in churches across the United States. Today, the Tower House serves as a historic house museum, and is one of the best preserved examples of its architectural style in the country.

The home offers guided tours and an annual Victorian Fair. The website offers a history of the home, visitor information, and information regarding upcoming events.

Lehigh County Historical Society [PA]

Description

The Lehigh County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. To this end, the society operates a museum, six historical sites, and a research library. Collections include more than 35,000 artifacts and close to 3 million archival documents. Historical sites include the 1770 Trout Hall, the 1756 Troxell-Steckel Farm, the 1893 Claussville One-room School, Haines Mill, the 1868 Lock Ridge Furnace, and the 1893 Saylor Park Cement Kilns.

The society offers exhibits; guided tours; archival and library access; and outreach living history presentations, slide shows, and videos. Interactive school tours include pre- and post-visit material, and were developed in accordance with state educational standards. The society can provide boxed lunches upon request.

Old Market House

Description

The Old Market House, erected by the city of Galena in 1845–1846, served for 65 years as the city market during the decades of Galena's greatest prosperity as a river port, lead-mining center, and commercial hub. The central section's first floor consists of an entry hall with staircases to the basement and second floor, and a large room providing exhibit and meeting space. The wings hold temporary local history exhibits and provide meeting space for community groups.

The house offers exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop [IA]

Description

This uniquely preserved blacksmith shop is exactly as German immigrant Matthew Edel left it the day he died. Edel, a skilled blacksmith and inventor, operated the shop until his death in 1940. Visitors can see his tools and wares and hear stories about blacksmithing during the age before tractors and automobiles.

The site offers tours and demonstrations.

Isham-Terry House [CT]

Description

The Isham-Terry House is a time capsule of genteel life in turn-of-the century Hartford. Dr. Oliver Isham bought the 1854 Italianate Villa in 1896. Here he had his physician's office and lived with his sisters Julia and Charlotte. Julia and Charlotte occupied the house until the 1970s, defying the urban renewal juggernaut that demolished so many historic homes. The sisters made so few changes and modernizations to the house that crossing its threshold today is like stepping back in time. Room after room is filled with objects of historical and family significance: ornate gaslight fixtures; stained-glass windows; rare books and paintings; Connecticut-made clocks; and memorabilia from Hartford High School, the Ishams' alma mater. Even Dr. Isham's office, with surgical instruments and medicines, was left undisturbed. Dr. Isham also possessed a rare collection of early Connecticut automobile memorabilia.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

Novo Restoration [CO]

Description

Novo Restoration seeks to prevent the demolition of and determine a new function for Loveland, Colorado's historic feed and grain building. As of yet, the proposed re-purposing is development of artist housing.

This organization offers monthly tours.

Historical Museum at St. Gertrude [ID]

Description

The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude presents the history of North Central Idaho. Collections include more than 10,000 archival materials; 150 years of textiles; weaponry, some of which was used in the 1877 Nez Perce War; Nez Perce artifacts; a range of historic office machinery, including a 1902 Burroughs “Moon Hopkins” bookkeeping machine and an 1895 Dactyle calculator; world minerals; mining equipment; medical artifacts, including a 1900 fetal monitor and a tonsillectomy chair; and artifacts of Chinese immigrants. The museum also owns many of Polly Bemis' previous possessions. Bemis (1853-1933), originally from China, was brought to an Idaho mining camp as a female slave. Roughly 12,000 artifacts, some of which date to the 14th century, are on display.

The museum offers exhibits

South Pass City State Historic Site [WY]

Description

South Pass City has a variety of interesting and educational activities for visitors throughout the summer. When the presence of volunteer staff permits, not only can visitors walk through each of the 17 restored and exhibited original structures, they can enjoy ice-cold sarsaparillas and a game of billiards on a restored 1860s period table, as well as hear the ring of a hammer on steel when the blacksmith shapes hot iron. Each day, one can shop in the historic Smith-Sherlock General Store or pan for gold in the clear waters of Willow Creek. In the Interpretive Center, visitors can also learn about other gold-producing methods that have been used around South Pass City throughout its history.

A second website for the site can be found here.

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