Alex Haley House and Museum [TN]

Description

Originally known as the Palmer House, this 10-room, turn-of-the-century bungalow home was built in 1919 by Will E. Palmer, the maternal grandfather of Alex Haley (1921–1992). From 1921 to 1929, and during some subsequent summers, Haley lived here with his grandparents. The front porch was often the place where young Haley heard the oral accounts of family history, including stories of Kunta Kinte, the young Mandingo man captured near his West African home. These stories inspired Haley to write about his ancestry in a book called Roots. This 1976 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel has been translated into over 30 languages and has had great influence in stimulating the study of genealogy. Roots was adapted for an eight-part television series, which became one of the most popular programs in television history. On December 14, 1978, the Alex Haley House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It has attracted scholars and other visitors from around the world. Haley is buried on the grounds.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame [TX]

Description

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors courageous and independent women of America's western frontier, mid-19th century through present. Interactive exhibits include the opportunity to learn to saddle a full-scale pony model. Select other exhibits address arena sports, rodeo fashion, bronc riding, rodeo evolution, oral histories, ranching, cowgirl equipment, and cowgirls in dime novels and on the screen. The museum exterior features artworks by sculptor Mehl Lawson and painter Richard Haas.

The museum offers an 8-minute introductory film, other thematic films, interactive and traditional exhibits, interactive guided group tours, outreach speakers for students and adults, Western lifestyle workshops and courses, school tours, 45-minute distance learning programs for students, a traveling trunk, educator workshops, and research library access. Group tours must include 15 or more visitors, and be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. Library access is by appointment only. Wheelchairs are available for use on site. The website offers activity suggestions for use in the classroom.

Landmark Center [MN]

Description

The Landmark Center was erected in 1902 as a Federal court house and a post office. Today, it houses a variety of community, art, and culture organizations. The center hosts five galleries—the American Association of Woodturners Galleries, which displays contemporary wooden artworks and historical lathes; the Landmark Gallery, depicting St. Paul, Minnesota's postal history; Uncle Sam Worked Here, covering Landmark Center history; the Ramsey County Historical Society's exhibits of local history; and the Museum of Musical Instruments and Gilman Ordway Manuscript Collection, the latter of which specializes in musical correspondence and writing.

The center offers exhibits, guided tours, self-guided tours, guided tours for students, group tours, and living history gangster tours. Student tours can be customized for areas of interest, and meet state educational standards. Reservations for student, group, and gangster tours must be made at least two weeks in advance, and the student and group tours must include 10 or more individuals. The website offers a virtual tour and activities for use by teachers.

Kentucky Derby Museum [KY]

Description

The Kentucky Derby Museums presents the significance and history of Thoroughbred racing; Churchill Downs; and the Kentucky Derby, a world-renowned annual horse race. The grounds include the graves of several favorite Derby horses—Carry Back, Swaps, Brokers Tip, and Sunny's Halo. Permanent exhibits address Kentucky Derby hats; races from 1918 to present day; the jockey stance; winning horses, owners, and trainers; jockey and stable life; handicapping; and African Americans in Thoroughbred racing.

The museum offers interactive and traditional exhibits, films, trivia tests, guided walking tours of Churchill Downs, barn and backside van tours, behind the scenes tours, legends and lore tours, student tours, curriculum-based programs, curriculum-based outreach programs, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, summer camps, and a cafe. Social studies program topics range from economics to urbanization. The website offers a suggested reading list for students and relevant vocabulary.

Petit Jean State Park [AR]

Description

Petit Jean features CCC/Rustic Style architecture that endures as a legacy to the craftsmanship and conservation achievements of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park includes three National Historic Districts and contains more than 80 buildings, trails, and bridges. The most prominent architectural structure, Mather Lodge, stretches along the bluff of scenic Cedar Creek Canyon. The bluffs, waterfalls, and vistas of Petit Jean Mountain inspired the creation of Arkansas's first state park, and along with it Arkansas's state park system.

The site offers occasional recreational and educational events.

Scotty's Castle [CA]

Description

Scotty's Castle, or the Death Valley Ranch, was designed as a vacation home for a wealthy Chicago couple, Albert Mussey Johnson and his wife Bessie. However, according to legend, it was built by Walter Scott or "Death Valley Scotty" with the earnings from his secret mines. The site interprets the Roaring 20s and the 1930s, which suffered from the Great Depression. Construction was permanently halted in 1931 when Johnson and Scott discovered that the site was located on government land.

The home offers 50-minute living history tours, tours for students, exhibits, a snack bar, and picnic areas. Tours interpret the year 1939. Tour transcriptions are available in Japanese, German, Dutch, Korean, Russian, Slovenian, Italian, Czech, Danish, Spanish, and French. The website offers a virtual tour.

The second floor is temporarily inaccessible by wheelchair. Gasoline is currently unavailable on site. The nearest gasoline is located 45 miles from the site.

Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site [TX]

Description

Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site is located on the Navasota River in Limestone County. In 1889, 24 years after the end of the Civil War, veterans of the Confederacy in Limestone and Freestone counties assembled as an encampment and formed the Joe Johnston Camp No. 94–United Confederate Veterans. The organization's constitution formulated during the 1889 meeting stated that its purpose was to perpetuate the memories of fallen comrades, aid disabled survivors and indigent widows and orphans of deceased Confederate soldiers, and preserve the fraternity that grew out of the war. The 1889 meeting was the first of a series of annual reunions that continued with few interruptions for the next 57 years. Attractions at the site include historic buildings such as the 1872 Heritage House, an 1893 dance pavilion, a Civil War steel-barreled Val Verde cannon, and two scenic footbridges that span Jack's Creek.

The site offers occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).