Slavery in America

Description

From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American history website:

"University of Maryland Distinguished University Professor Ira Berlin suggests that the unique circumstances of American slavery continue to shape the nation even today. Unlike most other slave-holding countries, the United States had a large indigenous slave population and one of the most stringent definitions of race—the '"one drop" rule'—in the world. The result is a society whose very fabric is bound up in the legacy of human bondage."

Alfred P. Sloan Museum [MI]

Description

The Alfred P. Sloan Museum of Flint Michigan presents local history, historic automobiles, and scientific principles. Historic topics are covered in the Hometown Gallery and Piersen Automotive Gallery. Collections include more than 125,000 artifacts including textiles, prehistoric objects, and more than 80 historic vehicles made in Flint.

The museum offers hands-on activities; exhibits; films; a vehicle conservation and restoration shop; archival access; arts and crafts workshops; group tours; group picture-puzzle scavenger hunts; more than 11 hands-on educational programs, ranging from autowork to the fur trade; a planetarium; and a lunchroom. Reservations are required for school groups. Separate reservations are required for use of the lunchroom by large groups.

Beehive House [UT]

Description

The Beehive House, built 1854, was the home of Brigham Young (1801-1877) during his years as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as the Governor of the Utah Territory. The interior is furnished in period style. The name of the residence comes from the beehive which sits at the top of the home as a symbolic reminder of the importance of an industrious nature.

The house offers free 30-minute tours.

Preservation Wayne [MI]

Description

Preservation Wayne seeks to promote awareness of Detroit's past and current achievements through tours, lectures, publications, and full-time accessibility to the media. Their areas of architectural focus include the works of Louis Kamper (1861–1953), architect of Book Tower and the Book Cadillac Hotel, and Albert Kahn (1869–1952), a major American industrial architect and designer of the General Motors Building and Detroit Police Headquarters. Other topics include the history of sculpture, residential structures, automobiles, skyscrapers, and theater in Detroit.

The organization offers a variety of tours and a lecture series.

Sedona Heritage Museum [AZ]

Description

The Sedona Heritage Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Sedona, Arizona, from its founding in 1876 up to the present day. The museum is located in an old farmhouse, and serves as a museum of local history, with artifacts, documents, and pictures which document the history of the town.

The museum offers guided tours, exhibits, hands-on workshops for schoolchildren, and special events including periodic presentations. The website offers a history of Sedona, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Texas Association of Museums [TX]

Description

"The Texas Association of Museums is dedicated to fostering educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities for all Texans. It accomplishes this, through service to its members, by providing a communications network, sponsoring educational programs, and encouraging adherence to professional standards and practices." The association offers a variety of professional services, including educational workshops and online tools such as fundraising software.

The site offers information and purchasing information for all services offered by the association, as well as a museum location finding service.

Gum Springs Historical Society and Museum [VA]

Description

The Society's primary purpose is to authenticate the history of the Gum Springs Community by preserving its heritage, culture, artifacts, and traditions; to establish the Gum Springs Community as a historic landmark; to create and stimulate community awareness, appreciation, and involvement in the important activities of preserving culture, history, and tradition; and to establish a museum as a repository whereby the community may display artifacts that embody its cultural values and worldview. The Museum features a photographic exhibit of Gum Springs' residents and founding families. Many of these photos are close to 100 years old, and some are older.

The museum offers exhibits.

Housing the Lowest Income Americans: The Past, Present, and Future of Public Housing

Description

Professor Lawrence J. Vale shows provocative images from early advertisements to demonstrate some of society's long-held attitudes toward public housing and those who live in public housing. He analyzes government policies as they evolved to provide housing to 'reward people who are most deserving' of assistance, or to provide housing assistance as a 'coping mechanism.'