National Canal Museum [PA]

Description

The National Canal Museum presents the story of U.S. towpath canals. Galleries include an interactive 90-foot model canal, the life of canal workers, and Lehigh Valley railroading. Other sights include the Emrick Technology Center, displaying Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania's industrial past; the Hugh Moore Park, which contains a canal boat and locks, as well as industrial ruins; and a locktender's house with period rooms and costumed interpreters.

The museum offers interactive exhibits, period rooms, costumed interpreters, full-day curriculum-based living history programs for students, a canal life outreach program for students, a traveling trunk, archive access, and canal boat rides. Canal boat rides are available May 14th through September seventh. Payment of a daily fee is required of non-members using the archive. The website offers Flash games and curricula.

Ramsey County Historical Society and Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life [MN]

Description

The Ramsey County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of St. Paul and Ramsey County, MN. To this end, the society operates the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life. The Gibbs Museum consists of the 1854 home of pioneers Herman and Jane Gibbs, a replica of their earlier c. 1849 sod home, their 1910 barn, a later barn, an 1880s schoolhouse, Dakotah style tipi, a replica Dakotah bark lodge, prairie, an orchard, Dakotah and pioneer crops, and a Dakotah medicine garden. Jane Gibbs was raised near the Dakotah, learning their language as a child; and she and the local Dakotah maintained a friendship throughout her life. Other exhibits and a research center are located at the society's headquarters.

The society offers period rooms, exhibits, tours led by costumed interpreters, group tours, gardens, farm animals, summer camps, lectures, research center access, and picnic tables. Reservations are required for group tours, and picnic tables are available with advance notice. Group tours focus on pioneer or Dakotah life, although tours can be given other areas of emphasis upon request. Students as young as preschoolers are welcome. The research center is open by appointment only.

First Due Fire Museum [MO]

Description

The First Due Fire Museum addresses fire safety, firefighting history, and modern firefighting. Collection highlights include an 1820 hose cart, uniforms, and breathing apparatus. The museum is staffed with professional firefighters.

The museum offers exhibits and interactive stations.

Benicia Historical Museum [CA]

Description

The Benecia Historical Museum presents the history and influence of Benecia, CA and the Benecia Arsenal, in use 1853 through at least 1886. Located in two arsenal buildings, exhibits address blacksmithing, painting, ferrying, ductwork, industry, and a general history of Benecia. The Benecia Arsenal held the 1864 auction of 34 military camels. In 1855, Jefferson Davis, while U.S. Secretary of War, imported more than 70 camels to carry military cargo through desert regions. By 1864, the experiment was considered a failure, as the camel's stubborn nature led to general troop dislike of the creatures; and the remaining camels were sold.

The museum offers exhibits, guided group tours, guided student tours with hands-on activities, traveling trunks, concerts, and a garden. Traveling trunks address Native American life and Spanish missions. Reservations are required for group and student tours. The Powder Magazine is open by appointment only. The website offers historical photographs and drawings.

Charlevoix Historical Society and Harsha House Museum [MI]

Description

The Charlevoix Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Charlevoix, MI area and its people. To this end, the society operates the Harsha House Museum. The 1891 Harsha House contains three period rooms, local history exhibits, a 1917 player piano, and a research library with oral histories.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, research library access, and research assistance.

New Castle Court House Museum [DE]

Description

The New Castle Court House, erected in 1732, was Delaware's first court and state capitol building. Topics addressed on site include colonial and state history, early Delaware law and government, and the Underground Railroad.

The museum offers site tours, exhibits, educational programs for students, and an hour long walking tour for adults. Reservations are required for large groups. The first floor of the structure is wheelchair accessible.

Braintree Historical Society, Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace, and Museum [MA]

Description

The Braintree Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Braintree, MA and its people. To this end, the society operates the Gilbert Bean Museum of local history, a research library, and the Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace. The research library collections include town records dating from 1640 onward, archival materials, and a display of military artifacts. Thayer (1785-1872) advocated engineering education, and is known as the "father of West Point." His birthplace holds exhibits on the railway, military history, and coopers, as well as circa 1785 period rooms.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours of the Thayer house, and research library access. Appointments are necessary for all visits, with the exception of Thayer house tours taking place April through November.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum [NY]

Description

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum honors Major League and Negro League players, umpires, managers, and executives who have excelled within the sport of baseball. The museum focuses on the evolution of baseball as a U.S. sport and the ways in which the game has impacted the greater national culture. Exhibits include inductee plaques, artifacts related to the inductees, changes in the sport over time, Babe Ruth, women's connection to baseball, no-hitters, African Americans and baseball, baseball in the Caribbean Basin, youth league champions, baseball cards, recent events, baseball in film, sports journalism, ballparks and ballpark music, current records, and World Series moments of note. Collection highlights include a ticket booth from Yankee Stadium. The museum's research library claims more than 2,600,000 documents.

The museum offers a 13-minute introductory multimedia presentation, exhibits, curriculum-based educational programs, distance learning opportunities for students, summer educational programs, education ambassadors, teacher workshops, children's overnight programs, Scout programs, and research library access. Appointments, made at least one week in advance, are encouraged for library use. Student educational program topics include women's history, industrial technology, fine art, labor history, cultural diversity, economics, civil rights, and popular culture, among other options. The website offers online exhibits, thematic education units, electronic fieldtrips, and podcasts.