Duke Homestead [NC]

Description

Visitors to the Homestead can see the early home, factories, and farm where Washington Duke first grew and processed tobacco. His sons later founded The American Tobacco Company, the world's largest tobacco company. Duke and others helped create a market for Durham-area tobacco products that eventually would turn North Carolina into the heart of an international tobacco empire. Many profits were invested in land and industries but others were used for such humanitarian causes as Duke University, named for the family. The tour includes the Duke family's restored home, an early factory, a curing barn, and a packhouse. The Tobacco Museum exhibits traces tobacco history from Native American times to the present.

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

Shaker Historical Museum [OH]

Description

The Shaker Museum is housed in a mansion overlooking Upper Shaker Lake. The museum exhibits a large collection of Shaker objects. Many are from North Union, a Shaker colony founded in 1822 and located in what is now the city of Shaker Heights. The museum also has a library with collections from both the 19th-century Shakers and 20th-century Shaker Heights. By 1850, North Union was a prosperous community of 200. At first it sold produce and handmade furniture to nearby communities. Cleveland's mass production industries eventually put them out of business. The colony disbanded in 1889.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, lectures, and research library access.

Wade House Museum [WI]

Description

In 1963 the Wisconsin Legislature voted to create a permanent home for the carriage collection of Wesley W. Jung, grandson of a Sheboygan carriage maker, at the Wade House site. In 1968, the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum opened to the public. Today, the Wade House Museum contains the entire estate, and offers visitors a comprehensive view into stagecoach travel and life in the midwest in the mid 19th century.

The location offers visitors a variety of activities including group and private tours, special events, and four separate historical museums, along with a visitor center and gift shop. The site offers detailed visitor information, a brief history of Wade House, a calendar of events, and information for planning school field trips.

Stephen Decatur House Museum [DC]

Description

The Stephen Decatur House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Washington, DC and one of only three remaining residential buildings in the country designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who has been called the father of American architecture. The home was completed in 1818, and has been home to many prominent figures over the course of its history both due to its neoclassical architecture as well as its location across from the White House. The location offers visitors a glimpse into nearly 200 years of Washington history through a variety of permanent and special exhibits. Currently, the house is undergoing an extensive renovation, though exhibits continue to be open for visitors.

The website offers brief biographies of all house owners, a history of the Lafayette Square neighborhood; information on all special events and programs, including educational tours and other programs designed for schoolchildren; an online museum shop; and visitor information.

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

Vermilionville [LA]

Description

The Bayou Vermilion District preserves the Bayou Vermilion watershed, once considered one of the nation's most polluted waterways. Today, the District runs Vermilionville, a living history village recreating life in the Acadiana area between 1765 and 1890. The village encompasses 18 buildings, where interpreters demonstrate traditional music and crafts.

The District offers exhibits, demonstrations, tours for school groups (which may include bag or hot lunches), workshops, cooking classes, boat tours, and other recreational and educational events. The website offers visitor information, information about the Bayou Vermilion District, an events calendar, and information on current projects.

John Brown Farm State Historic Site [NY]

Description

The John Brown State Historic Site is comprised of John Brown's home and grave. Brown (1800-1859) advocated abolition through armed resistance. He is best known for the 1859 raid at Harper's Ferry, although he also led the 1856 Pottawatomie Massacre.

The site offers guided tours and reenactments, as well as a variety of outdoors activities, including hiking and cross-country skiing. The site only offers basic visitor and historic information.

Nantucket Fire Hose Cart House [MA]

Description

The Fire Hose Cart House is the last remaining 19th century firehouse on Nantucket Island. The structure was built in 1886, and was in service for well over a half century. The structure was acquired by the Nantucket Historical Association in 1960. Today, visitors to the museum can view a variety of vintage firefighting equipment, including some rare equipment relating to the great fire of 1846.

The site offers brief historical and visitor information regarding the Hose Cart House. In addition, the site is part of the greater website of the Nantucket Historical Association, and so offers library access, information about the rest of the association's historical properties, and information regarding upcoming events. In order to contact the historical association via email, use the "contact us" link located on the bottom left of the webpage.

Erie Canal Museum [NY]

Description

The Erie Canal Museum was opened in 1962 in order to chronicle the history and culture of the Erie Canal. Presently, the museum offers exhibits on topics as varied as the history of Syracuse, the history of the canal, jobs on the canal, and taverns on the canal. Visitors to the museum can also take part in a variety of educational programs, including guided tours, online interactive activities, and lectures.

The site offers visitor information, a series of historical features, a listing of current exhibits, a small photo gallery featuring photographs of the Erie Canal Museum building, and an online museum shop.

Lac qui Parle Mission [MN]

Description

The Lac qui Parle Mission was founded in 1826 on the Minnesota River. The mission only lasted 20 years before the missionaries were forced out by Dakota opposition. Luckily, the mission has stood the test of time, and today is much the same as it was during the site's brief existence as a mission. The location is notable for creating the Dakota alphabet and for the translation of the Bible into the Dakota's language.

The site offers brief historical and visitor information regarding the site.

Blackwells Mills Canal House [NJ]

Description

The Blackwells Mills Canal House was built circa 1835 as a home for the men and women who operated the swinging bridges over the canal. In the 1970s, the last owner of the home died and the canal was declared a National Historic Site. Now, the house is a historic house museum, and visitors to the home can view how bridge operators lived in the 1800s as well as view artifacts and historical information about the Blackwells Mills Canal.

The site offers historical and visitor information regarding the house.