Colonial Williamsburg [VA]

Description

Colonial Williamsburg is the world's single largest living history museum. It consists of the reconstructed 18th-century British outpost of Williamsburg, VA. Through costumed interpreters and structures furnished to period, the museum shares the story of America and its people—Native American, African American, Caucasian, enslaved, indentured, and free—circa 1699 through 1780. The historic area includes political and residential sites, trade skill settings, a plantation, gardens, and animal breeds of circa 200 years ago. Museums on site include the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.

The site offers exhibits, period rooms, living history interpreters, demonstrations, walking tours, dramatic performances, military exercises, fife and drum parades, ghost walks, mock witch trials, films, lectures, music programs, reenactments, a teacher institute in early American history, children's activities, curriculum-based tours for students, museum tours, conferences, forums, workshops, concession stands, and several dining locations with period-inspired food. The website offers audio tours, a virtual tour, virtual exhibits, information on historical structures and people, information on aspects of daily life, recipes, electronic field trips, lesson plans, teaching resources for purchase, slide shows, videos, audio clips, a daily vocabulary feature, podcasts, blogs, activities and games, and journal excerpts

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park and Pioneer Museum [KY]

Description

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, site of the 1782 American Revolution Battle of Blue Licks, preserves the history of the site. At the Pioneer Museum, located in the park, visitors can learn about the area's history from prehistoric times to the days of the pioneers.

The park offers exhibits, historical trails and nature trails, programs and tours for school groups of all grade levels (fees starting at $3 per student), tent camping for school groups ($2 per person), and other recreational and educational events.

Ramsey County Historical Society and Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life [MN]

Description

The Ramsey County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of St. Paul and Ramsey County, MN. To this end, the society operates the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life. The Gibbs Museum consists of the 1854 home of pioneers Herman and Jane Gibbs, a replica of their earlier c. 1849 sod home, their 1910 barn, a later barn, an 1880s schoolhouse, Dakotah style tipi, a replica Dakotah bark lodge, prairie, an orchard, Dakotah and pioneer crops, and a Dakotah medicine garden. Jane Gibbs was raised near the Dakotah, learning their language as a child; and she and the local Dakotah maintained a friendship throughout her life. Other exhibits and a research center are located at the society's headquarters.

The society offers period rooms, exhibits, tours led by costumed interpreters, group tours, gardens, farm animals, summer camps, lectures, research center access, and picnic tables. Reservations are required for group tours, and picnic tables are available with advance notice. Group tours focus on pioneer or Dakotah life, although tours can be given other areas of emphasis upon request. Students as young as preschoolers are welcome. The research center is open by appointment only.

The Slaughter Ranch [AZ]

Description

The Slaughter Ranch is a 19th century ranch once owned by "Texas" John Slaughter, a powerful cattle rancher and legendary sheriff in modern day Arizona. The 1893 ranch consists of a five bedroom ranch house, an ice house, a wash house, a granary, a commissary, and a car shed.

Groups may tour the house and grounds, as well as use the designated picnic area.

Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation [IL]

Description

The Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation maintains the Federal-style 1833 house of George Davenport, a colonel in the US Army. The house was built as an outpost for the US government in the process of expanding and exploring the West. Davenport spent time as a fur-trader while living in the home and the site's interpretation reflects the home's settler history.

The museum offers guided tours by trained docents for school groups. The site also offers a travelling trunk filled with pre-visit activities for use a week before a field trip.

North West Company Fur Post [MN]

Description

The North West Company Fur Post is a living history museum interpreting fur trading in the year 1804. That year, a trader from the North West Company erected a winter trading post on site. From there he conducted business with the Ojibwe before moving on again in late April. Topics addressed include Ojibwe culture, changes in Ojibwe culture which occurred after European contact, European barter systems, the fur trade and the global economy, trader life, women in the fur trade, communication between cultures, and archaeology. As the site is a reconstruction, it permits visitors a hands-on experience.

The post offers interactive exhibits, living history interpreters, period skill demonstrations, day camps, guided group tours, field trip programs, nature trails, interpretive signs, canoeing opportunities, and a picnic shelter. Field trips include a guided tour, an educational game, a fire making demonstration, and a craft activity. Canoes are not available on site. The website offers history articles.

Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Western New York. The society's headquarters is the only permanent structure created for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Society holdings include more than 100,000 artifacts. Highlights include the largest collection of Pan-American Exposition artifacts, the Pierce Motorette, pacemaker prototypes, and the Red Jacket Peace Medal. Other artifacts can be classified as relevant to the Iroquois, War of 1812, Erie Canal, U.S. Presidents, industrialization, glass, ceramics, paintings, textiles, aviation, or immigration.

The society offers exhibits, 30-minute exhibit tours for students, outreach presentations, and research library access. Four weeks advance notice is required for student tours. A fee is charged for use of the library by non-members. The website offers virtual exhibits, slide presentations and videos for rental, resource kits for rental, and a Buffalo timeline.

Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park [NM]

Description

The Salmon Ruins and Heritage Park seeks to preserve and share the history and prehistoric record of the Four Corners. Particular emphasis is given to San Juan County, New Mexico. The park operates a research library with more than 5,000 volumes pertaining to Southwest history and archaeology. Sights include an 11th-century Chacoan greathouse; a 19th-century homestead; and a replica tipi, pithouse, hogan, and sweatlodge.

The site offers exhibits, guided group tours of the Salmon Ruins, school tours, outreach virtual tour presentations, and research library access. Reservations are recommended for group and school tours.