River Road African American Museum [LA]

Description

The River Road African American Museum presents the history of the African American population along the Mississippi River. Exhibits discuss cuisine, jazz, African American doctors and inventors, Louisiana's Underground Railroad, education, and other topics.

The museum offers exhibits; tours; a guided museum and neighborhood tour; a school tour drawing heavily upon art, music, and history with an optional scavenger hunt and/or storyteller; and educational programs on the Underground Railroad and plants which men and women seeking their freedom may have used for nourishment and medicine.

Montgomery County Historical Society and Museums [IA]

Description

The Montgomery County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Montgomery County, IA. To this end, the society operates a library, history center, and five historic structures. The 1853 and 1866 cabins, 1870 schoolhouse, and the general store and post office are furnished to period. The 1884 Nims barn presents information on agricultural history.

The society offers period rooms; exhibits on military history, local companies, agriculture, and the Masonic lodge; educational programs; a reference and archival collection available to the public at the History Center.

Barnum Museum [CT]

Description

The Barnum Museum presents the history of Bridgeport, Connecticut, particularly as related to the life of P. T. Barnum (1810-1891), the force behind one of the United States' primary circus enterprises. Exhibit topics include an Egyptian mummy, 19th-century Bridgeport life, the American tour of Swedish opera star Jenny Lind (1820-1887), and the life of Tom Thumb (died 1883). The museum also contains a 1,000-square-foot carved circus model and a reconstruction of one of Barnum's libraries, including the original furnishings.

The museum offers lectures, self-guided tours, guided tours, concerts, lectures, teacher workshops, a slide presentation, interactive educational programming in compliance with state educational standards, and an outreach slide presentation about the life of P. T. Barnum.

Abram's Delight Museum [VA]

Description

The Abram's Delight Museum presents an example of life in the lower Shenandoah Valley prior to U.S. independence. The limestone residence known as Abram's Delight was built in 1754, the year in which the French and Indian War was instigated; and the current furnishings reflect the 18th century. The home also served as Winchester, Virginia's first Quaker meeting house. On-site, one can also find mill stones and a log cabin, which is more typical of early settlers' dwellings.

The museum offers period rooms.

Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center [NY]

Description

The Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center seeks to preserve and share the history of Southampton, New York. To this end, the center operates a number of historical properties, including a paint store; blacksmith shop; one-room schoolhouse; carriage barn; and the main building, a sea captain's home, dating to 1843. Topics covered include farming, whaling, and local history.

The center offers period rooms and exhibits.

The Greenbrier Historical Society and North House Museum [WV]

Description

The Greenbrier Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Greenbrier area, West Virginia. To this end, the society operates the North House Museum and an archival collection. The archives contain documents dating as far back as the 1700s. The North House Museum, housed in an 1820 residence, presents life between the Revolutionary War and World War II.

The museum offers guided tours, tea and tour programs, historic district walking tours, a one-hour educational program on 1850s manners and games, archival access, and research assistance. A nominal fee is charged for archival access. Reservations are required for educational programs, the tea and tour combination, and walking tours.

General Butler State Resort Park [KY]

Description

The General Butler State Resort Park includes the 1859 Greek Revival Butler-Turpin State Historic House. The house commemorates the Butler family, one of the most prominent military families of Kentucky. The Butlers served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, and Civil War. Today, their home serves as a museum of local life and the family's military history. The site includes the family home, summer kitchen, log house archaeological site, and cemetery.

The house offers tours, as well as educational programming led by costumed interpreters and in compliance with state educational standards.

San Lorenzo Valley Museum [CA]

Description

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum presents the history of California's San Lorenzo Valley. The museum is housed in a National Register old-growth redwood church built in 1906, and permanent exhibits include a logging display and a circa 1900s kitchen. The kitchen permits demonstration of its equipment to students.

The San Lorenzo Valley Museum offers docent-led tours of the museum to students of 2nd grade community history study, charter and home schools. 'Then and Now' presentations encourage historical comparisons using logging, railroad, antique kitchen, circa 1900 schoolroom, and rotating exhibits with accompanying hands-on activities. Hands-on activities are varied, including washing clothes in a tub with washboards and hand-wringer, making an Ohlone toy, or stenciling bookmarks.