The Frick Art and Historical Center [PA]

Description

The Frick Art and Historical Center consists of the personal collections of Helen Clay Frick, daughter of Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919)—industrialist, steel tycoon, and major art connoisseur. The center includes the museum and Clayton, the Frick family's late Victorian home. The collection includes carriages, historic automobiles, and fine and decorative arts dating as far back as the Renaissance. Highlights include works by Jean-François Millet and an 1898 Panhard automobile.

The center offers themed tours of both the museum and Clayton, Act 48 educators' workshops, concerts, children's weekend workshops, summer camps, and more than 25 educational programs. The website offers lesson plans.

Westville [GA]

Description

Westville is a living history museum which emulates an 1850s west Georgia village. Numbering over 30 total, the restored antebellum structures include businesses, residences, a church, a schoolhouse, and a courtyard.

Westville offers costumed interpreters and group tours. Reservations are required for group tours.

Ohio County Historical Society and Museum [IN]

Description

The Ohio County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Ohio County, Indiana. To this end, the society operates a museum, housed in a 19th-century plow factory. This museum focuses on local life in the 1800s and early 1900s. Collection highlights include a record-winning, early 20th-century race boat called the Hoosier Boy and an auto-harp.

The society offers exhibits.

Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum [ID]

Description

The Shoshone County Mining and Smelting Museum presents the local history of the Silver Valley, Idaho, with a particular emphasis on mining and smelting history. Exhibits cover mining, environmental history, smelting equipment, minerals, metallurgy, medicine, and electricity. Collection highlights include an 1899 Nordberg Air Compressor and scale models of the Bunker Hill and Sunshine Mines. Dating to 1906, the museum structure was built as the residence of Stanley A. Easton (died 1961), manager of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining and Concentrating Company.

The museum offers exhibits and a period sitting room.

Textile Museum [DC]

Description

The Textile Museum presents the cultural significance and artistry of world textiles. The museum library contains more than 20,000 volumes, including listings of educational programs and textile collections; and the artifact collection contains over 18,000 artifacts from around the world—with the oldest dating to 3,000 B.C.E.

The museum offers guided highlights tours, interactive educational tours, hands-on activities, teacher workshops, and supporting materials for selected exhibits. Reservations are required for educational tours. The website offers digital exhibits.

The library is currently closed for reorganization.

Houston Fire Museum [TX]

Description

The Houston Fire Museum presents the history of U.S. firefighting. It is housed in the historic Fire Station No. 7, which was built in 1895. Collection highlights include a 19th-century pumper, an 1895 steamer, and a restored watch office. A new museum building is being added, and will emphasize fire safety.

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