Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library [CA]

Description

The Ronald Reagan Foundation and Library maintains a museum with more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, "dedicated to the promotion of individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy, and national pride." The museum's permanent exhibits and installations include a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, a portion of the Berlin Wall, and the Air Force One pavilion, where visitors may enter and tour the Presidential plane. Temporary galleries hold other topical exhibits. Visitors may also pay their respects at President Reagan's gravesite and memorial.

The museum schedules school tours, with free admission for K–12 students and for every chaperone per 10 students. School tours must be scheduled in advance; be sure to ask about arranging for box lunches and for free curriculum guides. Educators may also schedule free class visits to the museum's Discovery Center, a collection of sets (Command Decision Center, Oval Office, White House Press Room, and Air Force One Simulator) in which students will role play decision-making situations as historical figures.

Professional development workshops for educators may also be scheduled, as can a workshop for A.P. U.S. History and Government classes, orienting them to using the resources of the library archives.

Pioneer Museum [AZ]

Description

From the Arizona Historical Society website:

"The Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff is located in the historic Coconino County Hospital for the Indigent. Exhibits reflect Flagstaff and northern Arizona history, as well as ranching, logging, and transportation."

The museum offers exhibits.

Iron Industry Museum [MI]

Description

The Iron Industry Museum traces the development of the industry in the state. Located at the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region, it presents indoor exhibits and outdoor interpretive paths that lead visitors through the 19th-century origins of the industry forwards.

The museum offers exhibits and a short audiovisual presentation.

Museums of Oglebay Institute [WV]

Description

The Oglebay Institute maintains two museums: the Wheeling Mansion Museum and the Glass Museum. Built in 1846 by Hanson Chapline, Oglebay Institute's Mansion Museum was originally an eight-room farmhouse; today, it serves as a museum of local history. Situated adjacent to the Mansion, the Oglebay Institute Glass Museum displays cut-lead crystal, Victorian art glass, Peachblow, pattern and depression and Northwood's carnival glass, and many other glass examples showcasing Ohio Valley history. Visitors can also watch skilled glass artisans at work.

The museums offer exhibits, educational programs for school groups, workshops and classes, and recreational and educational events.

Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue [PA]

Description

The Hershey Story takes visitors on a journey through the life of Milton S. Hershey: the man, his chocolate company, the town that bears his name, and his legacy. It explores the accomplishments of an American entrepreneur through interactive museum exhibits and laboratory classes.

The museum offers exhibits, in-museum interactive classes and scavenger-hunt tours for school groups, workshops for visitors, and educational and recreational events.

Shaker Museum and Library at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village [NY]

Description

The Shaker Museum interprets Shaker life and culture and exhibits artifacts from Shaker history, including Shaker furniture, oval boxes, textiles, craft machinery, art, tools, and agricultural machinery. The Shaker Library holds archival materials including books and historic pictures.

The museum offers exhibits; the research library offers library access, by appointment only.

NOTE: The museum and library are currently closed while the institution relocates to a new site at historic Mount Lebanon.

Louisiana State Museum - Patterson

Description

The Louisiana State Museum - Patterson is the official state aviation and cypress sawmill industry museum and houses two important collections documenting state history.

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection focuses on the legacy of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams who formed an air service in Patterson in 1928. Both men became nationally prominent during what was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Although both Wedell and Williams perished in plane crashes, their legacy lives on in the memorabilia and planes on display.

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana. Lumbering became the state's first significant manufacturing industry. As a result, cypress lumber harvested and milled in Louisiana was shipped in mass quantities across the United States. The town of Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams, and in 1997 the Louisiana State Legislature designated Patterson as the cypress capitol of Louisiana. The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, photographs, and film that tell the story of this important regional industry.

In addition, the museum also has a changing exhibit gallery that highlights other aspects of Louisiana's culture and history, and provides school tours and accompanying enhanced curriculum guides.