The Rhode Island Quonset Air Museum (QAM) preserves, interprets, and presents Rhode Island's aviation history through collections, research, education, and exhibits. The air museum educates the public in the state's rich aviation legacy and displays collections that document the contributions of Rhode Island to the growth and development of aviation and space exploration.
The museum offers exhibits, tours, and educational programs.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame presents displays consisting of approximately 75 historic vehicles, more than 30 of which are Indianapolis 500 winners. The museum itself is located within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The hall of fame offers a 20-minute film, exhibits, and guided grounds tours.
The Lincoln Fire Department Museum presents the history of Lincoln, Nebraska's firefighting department, founded in 1886. Collections include historic firefighting equipment, photographs, and other related artifacts. Highlights include a fire trumpet, period uniforms, and a 1911 American LaFrance motorized fire engine.
The museum offers exhibits.
The Studebaker National Museum presents the history of the Studebaker Corporation, an automobile manufacturer; and, in doing so, displays U.S. transportation history. The Studebaker brothers' blacksmith shop, founded in 1852, would eventually be reconfigured as the world's largest wagon manufacturer and the producer of both military and civilian vehicles. Collection highlights include a 19th-century Conestoga wagon; military vehicles from six wars; and the presidential carriages of Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, and William McKinley. Lincoln's carriage is the vehicle he used to travel to Ford's Theater the night of his assassination. The Studebaker Archives house more than 50,000 images, engineering drawings, and 500 motion picture titles comprising the corporate archives of the Studebaker Corporation, the Packard Motor Car Company, and local South Bend industries. The museum structure itself incorporates design elements of Studebaker dealerships of the 1920s and 1930s.
The museum offers exhibits, tours, archival access, and research assistance. Both archival access and research assistance require payment.
The Greek Revival Rotch-Jones-Duff House was built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. The interior is furnished to the different periods of the residence's occupation (1834-1981). The home was also occupied in turn by the Jones and Duff families, ship's agents and coal, whale oil, and oil transportation professionals. The surrounding gardens most closely reflect the period 1851 to 1935.
The museum offers period rooms, exhibits, 30-minute self-guided tours of the home, gardens, one-hour guided group tours, guided group tours with tea or a luncheon, fourth and fifth grade educational programs, lectures, and educational programs. The website offers background information for the educational programs.
Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of more than 2,000 African-American students. Today, the campus provides the setting where visitors can explore this unique environment where boys and girls lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African-American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina.
The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, lectures, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).
The USS Midway is the longest serving 20th-century U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Collections include 25 restored aircraft, dating from World War II through Operation Desert Storm. The majority of exhibits display the various functions of the rooms and sections aboard the Midway.
The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits; films; three flight simulators; music videos; hands-on aircraft; two audio tours—one of which is designed for students; guided tours; a one-hour narrated video tour; docents available to answer questions; youth overnight programs; and educational programs which meet state educational standards. Reservations are required for guided tours. The site is approximately 60 percent wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available upon request. Student audio tours are available in English and Spanish.
The Smokey Bear Historical Park was created to memorialize a North American black bear cub. Found in the Capitan Mountains in 1950, the cub had survived a 17,000-acre forest fire; and was dubbed Smokey. Smokey Bear eventually became a national symbol of forest fire prevention. Although the character Smokey Bear had existed previously, the actual cub became his legally authorized face. The park presents topics such as the purpose of forest fires, forest health, and the interactive between natural and urban environments. Sites include Smokey Bear's gravesite and the Village of Capitan's first train depot.
The park offers indoor and outdoor exhibits, a 10-minute introductory film, a gravesite, a playground, and a picnic area. The website offers children's activities, coloring pages, and a Smokey Bear song and play.
The Montana Historical Society offers the Montana Museum, the Original Governor's Mansion, and the Montana State Capitol to visitors. The Montana Museum contains exhibits on Montana homesteaders and a collection of artwork from Montana's "cowboy artist" Charles M. Russell (1864-1926). The Governor’s Mansion was used from 1913-1959 and was built in the Queen Anne style.
The Museum offers docent-led and self-guided group tours free of charge to school groups. The Museum has a variety of tours and educational programs suitable for grades K-12. Pre- and post-visit activities are available for teachers. The State Capitol offers free self-guided tours for school groups. The Original Governor’s Mansion provides guided tours and children’s guided tours.
The Selfridge Military Air Museum is located on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, and is home to an impressive collection of military air technology. In addition, the museum is home to a collection of air combat memorabilia, including newspapers, patches, and photographs.
The museum offers guided tours and exhibits. The website offers visitor information, photographs of museum displays, and a history of the museum.