Old Sturbridge Village [MA]

Description

Old Sturbridge Village, which depicts New England life between 1790 and 1840, is one of the largest living history museums within the United States. Covering 200 acres, the site includes 59 historic buildings and three water-powered mills. Buildings range from residences and trade shops to a local law office. Animals on site include sheep, pigs, and heritage-breed turkeys. The museum collections include more than 60,000 artifacts.

The village offers orientation tours, period rooms, exhibits, costumed interpreters, demonstrations, hands-on history activities, educational programs, outreach programs, a children's summer camp, Scout programs, custom teacher workshops, picnic sites, food for purchase, and boxed lunches by advance order. Wheelchairs are available upon request, and a sign language interpreter can be present given at least two weeks advance notice. More than half of the structures allow for wheelchair entry. A guide listing accessible and partially accessible sites is available on the website. Reservations for teacher workshops must be made at least four weeks in advance. The website also offers a virtual tour; an extensive database of research, historic documents, and historic images; historic recipes; pre- and post-visit activity suggestions; curriculum plans; and children's activities.

Jefferson County Historical Society and Museum [New York]

Description

The Society operates a museum in the historic Paddock Mansion in downtown Watertown, New York. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the mansion was formerly the home of local banker Edwin L. Paddock and his wife, Olive. The home was designed in the Eastlake tradition by architect John Hose, and combined Tuscan Villa elements "for him" and Swiss Chalet "for her." It was built between 1876 and 1878 by John Griffin. Mrs. Olive Paddock bequeathed the home to the Society in 1922, and it was opened as a museum in 1924. The museum contains both Paddock family and local history exhibits, spread throughout three floors and within three outbuildings.

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

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site [SC]

Description

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site presents the 1859 Greek Revival residence of Representative, Senator, and Governor James Henry Hammond (1807-1864). Hammond is perhaps best known for his words "Cotton is King!," describing the economy of the southern United States. The site includes Hammond's home, heirloom gardens, a lane of 145-year-old magnolia trees, the preserved slave quarters, and 369 acres of surrounding land.

The site offers house tours, lectures, and third- and eighth-grade programs in accordance with state educational standards.

Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm [PA]

Description

The 100-acre Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm presents the daily life of the Pennsylvania German family who lived on the farm between the 1760s and 1913. A farmhouse, originally erected in the 1760s; spring house; cabin; replica circa 1893 schoolhouse; a circa 1850 barn; and nine other structures complete the site's outfit of buildings. Creatures and crops located on site include rabbits, horses, chickens, goats, mules, cows, sheep, pigs, turkeys, flax, wheat, corn, rye, and potatoes.

The farm offers guided tours, hands-on period skill learning, educational programs, home school programs, costumed living history interpreters, children's summer programs, workshops on historical crafts and skills, outreach programs, and a picnic pavilion. Outreach program options include a visit from one of the farm's sheep or chickens. The website offers pre-visit information for teachers, post-visit activities, a farm animal sponsorship program, and a virtual tour.

Hanford Mills Museum [NY]

Description

The more than 70-acre Hanford Mills Museum presents the history of millwork and its cultural and technological influences on society. The site includes the 1843 Hanford Mill, as well as a woodworking shop, hardware shop, gristmill, feed mill, sawmill, and water wheel used to create electrical power. In total, 16 historic structures are located on site. The Hanford Mill is one of the last remaining mills from the 19th century.

The museum offers a 15-minute film; exhibits; tours; nature trails; children's summer apprentice workshops; and educational programs on the historic mill, the science of the mill, ice harvesting, community relationships, the process of creating a product from raw lumber, industrialization, and the harvesting and processing of grain. The website offers a glossary, descriptions of programs and corresponding state educational standards, historic photographs, and resource links, pre- and post-visit activities.

Oakland Museum [OR]

Description

Oakland Museum is a small, volunteer-run town museum devoted to the history of Oakland, Oregon. Remodeled in 2004, the museum offers six new exhibits with interpretive panels added. Topics include the railroad, bank, pharmacy, doctor's office and a parlor.

Free self-guided tours are available but no educational programming is offered.

Gustine Historical Society [CA]

Description

From the society website: "The Gustine Historical Society seeks to uncover, preserve and disseminate knowledge about the history of Gustine and the "West Side" of California." The society runs a local history museum as well as a history center, which is research focused.

The society offers research resources and self-guided tours of the museum. The website offers a history of Gustine, visitor information, and an extensive photo gallery.

Dorothy G. Page Museum and Historic Town Site [AK]

Description

The Dorothy G. Page Museum presents the history of the Wasilla, Knik, and Willow Creek areas, Alaska. Exhibit topics include mining; the Knik Trading Co.; the postal system; the Den'iana Athabascans, the local Native American population; and Joe Reddington Sr. and Dorothy G. Page, founders of the Iditarod. Eight historic structures display the 1917 beginnings of Wasilla.

The museum offers exhibits and tours. Reservations are required for tours.

History Center of Olmsted County and Mayowood Estate [MN]

Description

The History Center of Olmstead County presents the history of Olmstead County, Minnesota. To this end, the center operates as a museum. The museum includes rooms devoted to the decorative arts; a hands-on children's cabin; and exhibits on topics which include IBM, St. Mary's Hospital, the 1883 Rochester tornado, and historical medicine. Artifact collections include textiles, military, decorative arts, Native American, agricultural and mechanical, and medical items. The center also operates the Mayowood Estate historic house museum. Erected in 1911 as the home of Dr. Charles H. Mayo, cofounder of the Mayo Clinic, Mayowood now contains period rooms.

The museum offers exhibits, educational programs, hands-on activities, museum tours, traveling trunks, and library access. Reservations are required for tours. The center also organizes baseball games, played in 1860s style. The Mayowood Estate offers period rooms and guided tours. The website offers virtual exhibits.