Carteret County Historical Society and Museum [NC]

Description

The Carteret County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Carteret County, North Carolina. To this end, the society operates a local history museum. The society's research library, accessible to the public, contains more than 8,000 volumes, archival materials, and photographs. Photographs include works by Clifton Guthrie and Jerry Schumacher. Artifact collections include hunting decoys; quilts; and the buggy of Emiline Pigott, a Confederate spy.

The society offers exhibits, research library access, research assistance, lunch and history storytelling events, and a teahouse. Reservations are required for lunch and storytelling programs.

Freetown Village [IN]

Description

Freetown Village presents the history and culture of the approximately 3,000 free African Americans known to have been living in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1870. The content focus is on the Fourth Ward, which is Indianapolis' oldest African American settlement.

The village offers a summer camp for five through 14 year old children, interactive plays, spiritual music performances, and hands-on children's workshops. With the exception of the summer camp, all programs are available as outreach programming in Indiana and nearby states.

Friends of Historic Kingston [NY]

Description

The Friends of Historic Kingston is a preservation organization dedicated to maintaining and restoring the architectural heritage of Kingston, New York, the state's original capital city. The organization also operates the Fred J. Johnston Museum, the Friends of Historic Kingston Museum, the Louw-Bogardus Ruin in Frog Alley Park, and the Sharp Burying Ground. The ruins offer an exhibit depicting the 1658 Kingston stockade. The Fred J. Johnston Museum consists of Johnston's (1911-1993) collection of 18th- and early 19th-century furniture and decorative arts, located within the antique dealer's own home and showroom. The circa 1812 structure itself is Federal in style. The Friends of Historic Kingston Museum contains exhibits relevant to local history and Kingston's contemporary art scene.

The organization offers two-hour guided walking tours of the Historic Stockade District, guided walking tours of the Rondout District, a treasure hunt tour of the Stockade District designed for children between 7 and 12 years of age, lectures, exhibits, historic skill demonstrations, and guided tours of the Fred J. Johnston Museum. Appointments are required for groups interested in the district walking tour and/or viewing the Johnston house and museum.

Mansfield Fire Museum and Educational Center [OH]

Description

The Mansfield Fire Museum and Educational Center presents fire service history. A reproduction circa 1900 fire station can be found on site. Collections include the area's original fire alarm bell, which fell out of use in 1925 and is said to have been rung to celebrate the defeat of the Japanese in World War Two on V-J Day, 1945.

The center offers exhibits, period rooms, and safety demonstrations.

Pacific County Historical Society and Museum [WA]

Description

The Pacific County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Pacific County, Washington. To this end, the society operates the Pacific County Museum, the collections of which include more than 10,000 photographs, 1,500 artifacts, and historical documents. Areas of focus include Native American history, natural history, transportation, maritime history, daily life, and natural resources.

The museum offers exhibits and research collection access. Access to the research collection requires an appointment with the director.

Glen Foerd [PA]

Description

Glen Foerd is the final remaining riverfront estate within Philadelphia. Originally erected circa 1850, the residence is now most overtly Italianate in style. Residents have included Charles Macalester, businessman and broker, and Robert and Caroline Foerderer of Vici Kid, a kid skin company. Sights include the main residence, a boat house, a water tower, a carriage house, and a gate house.

The estate offers period rooms, guided tours, group tours, group tour and meal packages. Two days advance notice is needed for tours, and tours with meals require two weeks advance notice. The website offers historical photographs.

North Carolina State Capitol

Description

This National Historic Landmark is one of the finest and best-preserved examples of the Greek Revival style of architecture in the United States. The Capitol features a domed rotunda and state senate and house chambers, meticulously restored to their 1840 appearance. Its granite walls housed all of North Carolina state government until 1888. The legislature met here until 1961. Today, the governor and his staff still occupy offices in the Capitol.

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

Canterbury Shaker Village [NH]

Description

The 694-acre Canterbury Shaker Village contains 29 Shaker buildings—25 restored and 4 reconstructed. The site preserves the 200-year history of the Canterbury Shakers. Historically, the village was founded in 1792; and, by the 1850s, was home to more than 300 people. Shaker beliefs included using dance as a communal form of communication with God, equality of the sexes, group ownership, and celibacy. Collections consist of more than 30,000 artifacts.

The village offers exhibits, period rooms, three guided tours, self-guided tours, family tours, guided student tours and activities, hayrides, workshops, family activities, educational programs, hiking trails, craft demonstrations, outreach programs, traveling trunks, summer camps, a reading room, archival access, and food for purchase. The reading room and archival documents are available by appointment. Reservations are required for field trip groups. The website offers virtual exhibits on Shaker pets, maple syrup gathering, dentistry, architectural re-use, and area tourism. The website offers games and supplementary materials for teachers and lesson plans.

Anoka County History Center and Library [MN]

Description

The Anoka County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Anoka County, Minnesota. To this end, the society operates a research center with more than 750 books and thousands of archival documents; and boasts ownership of more than 47,000 cataloged items.

The society offers exhibits, living history outreach programs, traveling trunks for rental, downtown walking ghost tours, library access, and research assistance. A fee is charged for research assistance. Reservations are required for outreach programs and ghost tours. The website links to the society's monthly history television program, which can be viewed online.

American Swedish Institute [MN]

Description

The American Swedish Institute is a historic house museum, cultural center, and history and culture museum dedicated to the history, culture, and accomplishments of Swedish Americans. The institute is located within an early-20th century chateauesque mansion. Exhibit topics include immigration, craft traditions, homeland nostalgia, historical Swedish populations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Swedish-American vaudeville.

The institute offers period rooms; exhibits; group tours; children's language and culture classes; summer day camps; a Lucia choir; customizable school tours; student educational programs; and student outreach programs, including role-playing, living history, and storytelling presentations. Reservations are required for group tours and all student programs.