Will Rogers State Historic Park [CA]

Description

In the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick roping act, he rose to worldwide fame as a columnist, philosopher, radio personality, and movie star. During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, the Rogers's owned 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as Pacific Palisades. The ranch became the place where Will Rogers could relax with his family and friends, pursuing his favorite pastimes of riding and roping. At his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers's ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails. When his widow, Betty, died in 1944, the ranch became a state park.

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

Frazier Farmstead Museum [OR]

Description

The Farmstead is operated and maintained as a restored house and farm museum by the Milton-Freewater Area Historical Society. The Frazier home was built in 1892 and houses a collection of antique furnishings and other items from 19th-century daily life. The site also houses a 1918 barn, a carriage house, and several other buildings, all of which were an integral part of a turn-of-the-century working farm.

The museum offers visitor tours. The website offers general visitor information regarding the museum as well as a brief history of the location.

Champlain Memorial Lighthouse [NY]

Description

The Lighthouse, dedicated in 1912, serves a dual purpose as both a lighthouse and a memorial to the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain.

The lighthouse is open to tours and visitors throughout the summer months. Visitors can explore the interior of the lighthouse and can take in the view of Lake Champlain from the top. The website offers a detailed history of the lighthouse, a photo gallery featuring 17 photographs of the interior and exterior of the lighthouse, and visitor information.

Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site [ND]

Description

The site consists of a large two-and-one-half story restored Victorian house and a carriage house. Constructed in 1884, it housed 21 chief executives between 1893 and 1960. Room exhibits feature the restoration process, architectural style changes, and furniture used by several governors.

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

Slifer House Museum [PA]

Description

Eli Slifer is notable for serving in the position of Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Civil War. It was during this period that the Slifer house was completed. Slifer lived in this home until his death in 1888. Today, the house and the surrounding grounds are owned by Albright Care Services, and offer visitors a view into the history of Pennsylvania as well as a variety of events, including tours and a summer camp.

The museum offers tours and occasional educational and recreational events.

Virginia Historical Society, Battle Abbey, and Virginia House [VA]

Description

The Society works to collect, preserve, and interpret the Commonwealth of Virginia's history for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. The society runs two museums: the Battle Abbey, which also serves as the headquarters of the society, and the 1929 Virginia House, an historic house museum.

The society offers a variety of educational services, including presentations for elementary and middle school students, exhibitions designed to meet the requirements of grade-specific SOLs, boxes for loan with reproductions of primary materials [travelling trunk programs are almost always for loan, not pay], and a summer teacher's program. The society also offers exhibitions and tours of their museums. The website offers digital collections and exhibits, visitor information, information regarding current exhibitions, an online selection of society publications, and an events calendar.

Shadows-on-the-Teche [LA]

Description

Shadows-on-the-Teche is an 18th-century plantation located in Southern Louisiana. Today, the location is an antebellum historic house museum allowing visitors a glimpse into life on a major southern plantation.

The museum offers visitor tours and student group tours and other educational programs. The website offers a detailed history of the location, visitor information, an education section which offers information about educational tours and events, and an events calendar.

Louis Armstrong House and Archives [NY]

Description

In 1943, Louis Armstrong and his wife, Lucille, settled in a modest house in Corona, Queens, where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Today, the furnishings and the house are preserved very much as they were during the Armstrongs’ lifetime.

Today, visitors are offered guided 40-minute tours, as well as occasional special events. Group tours (8 or more) must be scheduled in advance. The museum also holds several collections of artifacts that are available to researchers by appointment. The website offers visitor information, information regarding upcoming events and current exhibits, and a biography of Louis Armstrong. In order to contact the house via email, use the "contact" link located under the "about us" tab.

Cherokee Strip Museum [OK]

Description

Located on five acres of land about an hour north of Oklahoma City, the Cherokee Strip Museum provides an opportunity to explore the remarkable events and people who made up the history of the Cherokee Outlet. The Cherokee Strip was created in 1835 in order to fulfill terms of an agreement by the US government and the Cherokee people to create an "outlet" for the Cherokee people out west. The museum chronicles the history of this territory.

The museum offers tours and exhibits, as well as the Rose Hill School, which offers a living history exhibition showing modern day schoolchildren what school was like in the days of the single-room schoolhouse. The site offers visitor information, a brief history of Cherokee outlet, as well as nine online exhibits and information about upcoming events.