George Ranch Historical Park [TX]

Description

The George Ranch Historical Park presents living history interpretation of the history of Fort Bend County, Texas and neighboring areas. The site consists of a 23,000-acre working ranch, which interprets the periods between 1824 and circa 1940. Sites include the 1830s Jones Stock Farm, 1860s Ryon Prairie Home, a sharecropper's farm, chuck wagon camp, blacksmith shop, the 1890s Davis Victorian Mansion, a family cemetery in use between the 1820s and 1916, and the 1930s George Ranch House.

The park offers period rooms; hands-on activities; guided group tours; self-guided tours; 11 educational program options for students, including two role-playing programs; a homeschool day program; demonstrations; home tours; living history interpreters; period lunches; a tram; and a cafe. Groups desiring guided tours must include at least 15 individuals. Meal options are available for groups.

Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society and Museums [NY]

Description

The Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Yates County, New York. To this end, the society operates two museums, the Oliver House Museum and the L. Caroline Underwood Museum. The Oliver House Museum, a historic house museum, is listed separately in this database. The L. Caroline Underwood Museum presents exhibits on artifacts and topics of local historical interest, as well as on the life of Lucy Underwood herself. The collections include more than 1,500 items. This museum also houses the society library.

The society offers exhibits and research library access. Payment of a fee is required for non-members to use the library resources.

National Portrait Gallery [DC]

Description

The National Portrait Gallery is a fascinating museum that showcases portraits of America's most famous and influential figures. Using a variety of mediums and styles, famous artists have created likenesses of presidents, artists, writers, politicians, etc. and historians place their importance in context.

Students visiting the museum can take a docent-led interactive tour of the museum based on educational standards (60-90 min.). Interactive educational programs are offered for grades K-12 on a variety of topics. Teacher resources can be downloaded from the website. Teacher workshops are also available year-round.

Osceola County Historical Society, Museum, and Pioneer Village [FL]

Description

The Osceola County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Kissimmee and St. Cloud areas, Florida. To this end, the society operates a museum and a historical village, which depicts early pioneer life in the state of Florida. Permanent exhibits include general local history and the county citrus industry. The village includes a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, citrus packing house, wash and smoke house, residence, cattleman camp, country store, and water tower.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, field trip programs about pioneer or cattleman life, outreach presentations for schools, a high school history club, a Scout program, continuing education programs, summer camps, and research library access.

California African American Museum

Description

The California African American Museum presents African American art, history, and culture. The museum's permanent exhibit addresses life in West Africa, experiences in the American South, and the Great Migration toward the western coast. Highlights include traditional headdresses and masks. Collections include landscapes, traditional and modern arts, and other artifacts of historical note.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, lectures, craft activities, films, performances, readings, discussions, and a high school docent internship. Groups of 10 or more are asked to make reservations. The website offers educator resource guides for purchase.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Log House Museum [WA]

Description

The Society's Log House Museum is located in a renovated turn-of-the-century log structure which once served as a carriage house, or stable, to the Fir Lodge. The 1900s Fir Lodge was one of the first year-round homes built on Alki Beach and was owned by prominent Seattleites, William and Gladys Bernard. Today, the carriage house houses exhibits on local history.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and educational programs.

Francis X. Pendl Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center [NY]

Description

The Francis X. Pendl Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center presents the history of firefighting in Nassau County, New York communities. Collections include historic and modern apparatus and uniforms. An interactive exhibit focuses on fire safety.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, interactive fire safety and prevention presentations for students, and senior programs.