Champoeg State Heritage Area [OR]

Description

Champoeg features a combination of history, nature, and recreation. This is the site where Oregon's first provisional government was formed by a historical vote in 1843. Situated on the south bank of the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg's acres of forest, fields, and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era. Visitors can tour the park's visitor center, Newell House, and Pioneer Mothers Log Cabin museums to discover pioneer life at Champoeg; or take a guided walk to learn what happened to the bustling pioneer town of Champoeg, and how the Donald Manson Barn was built. An 1860s-style garden lies next to the visitor center. The park also includes the Historic Butteville Store founded in 1863. It is considered the oldest operating store in Oregon. The store is the last commercial vestige of the once thriving Willamette River community of Butteville.

A second website for the area, the Friends of Historic Champoeg site, can be found here.

The area offers short films; exhibits, tours; educational programs; demonstrations; lectures; and educational and recreational events, including living history events.

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum [PA]

Description

Landis Valley Museum, a living history village and farm, collects, preserves, and interprets the history and material culture of the Pennsylvania German rural community from 1740 to 1940 and enhances understanding of their successful practices, interactions with others, and the impact on the state and nation for citizens of and visitors to the Commonwealth. Visitors experience 18th- and 19th-century village and farm life in Lancaster County, PA, all in one visit. With over 100 acres and many historic buildings to explore throughout the four seasons, there is always something to see at Landis Valley Museum.

The site offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, educational programs that meet PA state curriculum standards, lectures, workshops, and recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Historic Washington State Park [AR]

Description

Historic Washington is a restored 19th-century town with 45 historic structures. Classic examples of Southern Greek Revival, Federal, Gothic Revival, and Italianate architecture stand as a legacy to life in Washington from 1824 to 1889. From its establishment in 1824, Washington was an important stop on the rugged Southwest Trail to Mexico, and later, Texas. James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett each traveled through Washington at various times. Vistiors can stroll the plank boardwalks along streets that have never been paved, and explore this tree-shaded town many call "the Colonial Williamsburg of the Southwest."

The site offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, research library access, workshops, and educational and recreational events (including living history events).

Boothbay Railway Village [ME]

Description

The Boothbay Railway Village operates a narrow-gauge coal-fired steam train in a recreated historic village composed of locally significant historic structures. Additionally the museum exhibits one of the finest presentations of antique vehicles in New England.

The village offers exhibits, train rides, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Century House Historical Society and the Snyder Estate [NY]

Description

The Century House Historical Society preserves the industrial history of the Rosendale natural cement region, operating from the Snyder Estate. The estate began in the early 1800s as a family farm. With the local discovery of natural cement, the site experienced substantial industrial growth until the 1970s.

The society and the estate offer exhibits, tours, and occasional educational and recreational events.

Flag House and Star-spangled Banner Museum [MD]

Description

At the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, visitors take part in an interactive experience in which they become part in the story of the sewing of the flag that inspired the National Anthem. They step into living history as they meet Mary Pickersgill, the spirited woman who made the flag. They learn firsthand from Mary, her family, and friends what life was like in the 19th century and take part in activities that let them experience it for themselves.

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

Sharlot Hall Museum [AZ]

Description

The Sharlot Hall Museum site consists of a central museum center and several historic buildings, including the 1864 Governor's Mansion, the 1934 Sharlot Hall Building (the museum's main exhibit space), the 1875 Fremont House, the 1877 Bashford House, the 1863 home Fort Misery, and a 1937 automobile-repair garage (which houses the museum's vehicle collection).

The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Aurora Colony Historical Society and Museum [OR]

Description

The Society's Museum
The Old Aurora Colony Museum displays and preserves artifacts recounting the history of the Aurora Colony communal society and presents the history, families, and crafts of Oregon's Aurora Colony. The colony was a Christian communal society, consisting nearly entirely of Swiss and German immigrants, which lasted from 1856 to 1883. The museum is located within several structures, including the circa 1860 Ox Barn, 1876 Steinbach Cabin, Will Family Summer Kitchen, Kraus boot and shoe shop, blacksmith shop, and the circa 1864 Kraus House. The Kraus House, Steinbach Cabin, and summer kitchen are furnished to period.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, one-hour guided tours, self-guided tours, educational programs for students, a fourth grade farm program for students, outreach speakers, and weekly programming related to quilting. Reservations are required for guided tours, student educational programs, and outreach speakers. The farm program includes a curriculum-based teacher's notebook and pre-visit video. The website offers original Aurora Colony musical scores.

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

Austerlitz Historical Society and Old Austerlitz Historical Village [NY]

Description

The Society operates the Old Austerlitz Historical Village where artifacts, photos, and memorabilia relating to the town are displayed in a collection of 18th and 19th century buildings. These buildings include an 1818 one-room schoolhouse, an 1850s church, a blacksmith's, the 1770 Sauers-Kellogg House, a granary, the Morey-Deveraux House, and the 1830s Varney House.

The society offers occasional recreational and educational events; the village offers tours.