Historical Society of Talbot County [MD]

Description

The Historical Society of Talbot County seeks to preserve and share the history of Talbot County, Maryland. To this end, the society operates a museum and three historic residences. The residences are the circa 1795 cottage of cabinetmaker Jospeh Neall, the 1805-1810 Federal-style townhouse of Joseph's brother James, and a partial reconstruction of an early homestead. The townhouse contains period furnishings. The society collections include more than 10,000 artifacts, archives, and at least 100,000 photographs. Roughly 15 percent of the artifact collection is on view at any given time. Collection highlights include the sign of a local suffrage group, local packing labels, illustrated journals by Quaker William E. Bartlett (1793-1865), and a lithograph by artist Ruth Starr Rose (1887-1965).

The society offers exhibits, historic home tours, a self-guided tour of Easton's downtown, a self-guided driving tour of Frederick Douglass' life in the area, gardens, and period rooms. Reservations are required for group tours.

Alpine Historical Society [CA]

Description

The Alpine Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Alpine, California. To this end, the society operates two museums: the 1896 Dr. Nichol's House and the 1899 Adam and Caroline Beaty House. The former housed Alpine's first doctor, who was female. A small schoolhouse was later attached to this structure. Exhibits focus on a different topic each year.

The society offers exhibits, access to historical newspapers, and a local essay contest for students. The website offers historical photographs.

House of the Seven Gables [MA]

Description

The House of Seven Gables was built in 1668, making it the oldest wooden mansion remaining in New England. Best known for being immortalized in Nathaniel Hawthornes' novel The House of the Seven Gables, today the home holds more than 2,000 artifacts and a research library. A number of other properties have been moved to the site. These are the 1655 Jacobian and Post-Medieval-style Retire Beckett House, the oldest residence in Massachusetts; the 1682 Hoope-Hathaway House (of the same styles as the previous structure); the 1750 Georgian-style Nathaniel Hawthorne House, birthplace of famed dark romanticist author Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864); and the circa 1830 counting house, where a maritime supercargo would have calculated his finances. The grounds also contain gardens.

The site offers tours of the House of the Seven Gables, period rooms, exhibits, hands-on activities, summer camps, educational programs on navigation and daily life in the 1600s Massachusetts Bay area, and an outreach program on colonial trade. The website offers a lesson plan on the Progressive Era (1890s-1920s). Reservations are required for educational programs.

Thomas Paine National Historical Association [NY]

Description

The Thomas Paine National Historical Association seeks to share the story of Thomas Paine (1737-1809) and gain widespread acknowledgment of Thomas Paine as the primary founder of the United States. The association operates a museum, the Thomas Paine Cottage, and a monument. The cottage once served as Paine's home. Thomas Paine was a pamphleteer and revolutionary, who promoted the concept of human rights and supported both the French and American revolutions. Although he supported the French Revolution, he did not support the execution of Louis XVI—instead proposing that he be exiled to America, since he had financially aided the United States in the Revolutionary War.

The cottage offers exhibits. The association offers educational programs, public speakers, and presentations.

The museum is currently closed for re-cataloging and preservation.

Jimmy Carter National Historic Site [GA]

Description

The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site permits exploration of the community of Plains, Georgia, which profoundly influenced both Jimmy Carter (born 1924) and his wife, Rosalynn (born 1927). Notable features of the site include the Plains High School, the Historic District of Plains, the Plains Train Depot, and the Carter Boyhood Farm. The high school serves as a visitor center and includes several restored rooms and exhibits on Carter's life in Plains, education, and career. The depot, formerly Carter's Campaign Headquarters, focuses on the 1976 Presidential Campaign. The farm, restored to its pre-1938 appearance, was Carter's home between the age of 4 and the time he left for college (1928-1941). Jimmy Carter served as the 39th President of the United States (1977-1981) and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his international humanitarian efforts.

The site offers a guided walking tour, wayside exhibits, and audio narration by Jimmy Carter at the farm; exhibits in the train depot; and a 25-minute introductory video, period rooms, and exhibits in the high school. The website offers historic photographs. Educators are asked to make reservations. The site is willing to schedule guided day programs or self-guided tours for school groups. Field trip options are designed to meet state educational standards. Contact the site for 11 differently themed traveling trunks and teaching resources.

Saratoga Springs History Museum [NY]

Description

The Saratoga Springs History Museum is located in the old Canfield Casino in Congress Park, and works to preserve and showcase the history of Saratoga Springs, New York.

The museum hosts free lectures and presentations every month and offers a variety of exhibits, educational programs, and group tours of both the tour and Congress Park. The most popular of the educational programs is the Health, History, and Horses program which is designed for fourth graders. The website offers visitor information and information regarding upcoming events.

Historic Prophetstown [IN]

Description

Historic Prophetstown is located in the Wabash River Valley and is dedicated to giving its visitors a glimpse into life in the valley during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition, Historic Prophetstown has a reconstructed Woodland Indian Settlement.

Historic Prophetstown offers field trip programs, workshops, guided tours, interpretive events, and occasional special events such as storytelling and fairs. The website offers a teacher's guide to field trips at Historic Prophetstown, visitor information, and information regarding upcoming events and workshops.

Historical Society of Marshall County [IA]

Description

The Historical Society of Marshall County owns and operates four buildings that help to preserve the history of Marshall County. First, the society maintains a local history museum that is open year round. The Glick-Sower House and Country School are open to visitors by appointment and are both carefully preserved 19th century structures. The Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop is open during the summer and gives visitors a glimpse into the life of a blacksmith.

The society offers visitors guided tours of all of the above structures. Exhibits are available to visitors in the museum. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of each building.

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park [CA]

Description

This remote military post was established in 1853 to assist in conflict resolution between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun flooding into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. Fort Humboldt was formally abandoned in 1870 and rapidly fell into decay. Today, only the hospital building remains out of the original fourteen structures. It is now a historical museum dedicated to telling the story of the Fort and the Native American groups, including the Wiyot, Hoopa and Yurok of this region. In the 1980s the Surgeon's Quarters was reconstructed and there are plans for its establishment as a period house museum. In 2001 an historic herb and vegetable garden was recreated adjacent to the Hospital. The park also includes a Logging Museum and open air displays of historic 19th- through mid-20th-century logging equipment including the Dolbeer Steam Donkey, "Lucy"; the Bear Harbor Lumber Company's Gypsy Locomotive #1; and the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company's #1 "Falk" locomotive.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events and programs.