The Black Archives collects manuscripts, photographs, and oral histories pertinent to African American history in southern Florida between 1896 and present day. Particular emphasis is placed on the 20th-century urban South.
The archives offers a photograph and manuscript research center. The website offers children's activity pages.
The Upper Peninsula Firefighter's Memorial Museum, located within the 1900 Red Jacket Fire Station, presents approximately 100 years of firefighting history.
The museum offers exhibits.
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza presents information pertinent to the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Evidence following the event pinpointed the sixth floor of the Texas Schoolbook Depository, now the site of the museum, as the location from which the bullets were fired. Exhibits address the investigation, national and world responses, the time period, the legacy of Kennedy and of the event, and Kennedy's trip to Texas. Collections include more than 35,000 artifacts and 600 oral history interviews.
The museum offers more than 45 minutes of documentary films, exhibits, self-guided tours, audio guides, educational programs for students, teacher workshops, and a research center. Appointments are necessary to utilize the research center, and reservations are required for all groups of 20 or more. The audio guides include news excerpts and the voices of reporters, police officers, and witnesses; and the audio guide is available in English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and a youth version. The museum also offers wheelchairs for use on site, and transcriptions of the audio guide content. The website offers a student gallery guide.
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 (19211992). 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.
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.
The Gaithersburg - Washington Grove V.F.D. Fire Museum presents firefighting history from the 1920s to present day. Exhibits feature a 1941 pumper, a circa 1981 pumper, badges, helmets and uniforms, radios, department logs, and other relevant artifacts. Interactive consuls provide fire prevention information.
The museum offers exhibits.
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.
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.
The Moriah Historical Society maintains the Iron Center, a museum of local railroad and mining history. Housed in a restored carriage house, the Iron Center focuses on the mining and transportation of iron ore from Lake Champlain.
The museum offers a short video and exhibits, and is open to school groups, by appointment, free of charge.
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute interprets the struggle of African Americans in Birmingham, AL, to secure their civil rights as citizens of the U.S. and members of the community. It also examines human rights issues across the globe.
The institute offers exhibits, a 12-min. film, tours for school groups, and educational and recreational events.