Burritt on the Mountain: A Living Museum [AL]

Description

The 163-acre Burrit on the Mountain: A Living Museum consists of the 1936 mansion of Dr. William Henry Burrit, physician and inventor; a historic park with restored 19th-century houses and period crops; a barnyard; and animals. Exhibits cover the history of the land and people of Tennessee and Alabama's Southern Cumberland region. Living history demonstrations include blacksmithing, spinning, and cooking over an open hearth.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, living history interpreters, demonstrations, nature trails, educational programs, summer camps, Field Trip Fridays, monthly home school programs, traveling trunks for rent, and in-classroom outreach programs. Reservations are required for Field Trip Fridays.

Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum [OH]

Description

The Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum presents information on the history of the Lake Erie Islands area in Ohio. The museum includes a boat building and information on Oliver H. Perry (1785–1819), victor of the War of 1812's Battle of Lake Erie; Jordan Freeman, one of Perry's crewmen; the Native Americans of the area; and everyday life circa 1900. Collections include an extensive variety of model ships and one of two remaining Francis Metallic Lifeboats in the United States.

The museum offers a 15–minute introductory film, exhibits, children's programs, tours, lectures, seasonal events, a research library, and archives. Reservations are required for school groups.

Apple River Fort State Historic Site

Description

The Apple River Fort was the site of an important battle during the Black Hawk War. It was the only fort attacked by Black Hawk during the turbulent summer of 1832. On June 24, 1832, the settlers at the fort turned back an attack by some 200 Sauk and Fox warriors led by Black Hawk. The war, which lasted only 16 weeks, ended the threat of Indian attacks in the area and opened the region to further settlement. Many notable men participated in the Black Hawk War including a young Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and General Winfield Scott. Abraham Lincoln and his militia company arrived at the fort the day after the battle. Today, the fort has been reconstructed and is open for self-guided tours. Special events throughout the year highlight many aspects of life in Jo Daviess County in 1832. Exhibits at the Interpretive Center, on the trail, and at the fort tell the story of the Sauk and Fox, the early settlers, and the conflict that became known as the Black Hawk War.

The site offers exhibits and occasional recreational and educational events.

California State Military Museum

Description

The California State Military Museum is the official state military museum, under the U.S. Army. Today, the museum houses over 30,000 artifacts, a library with over 10,000 volumes, and archives. These collections include items of importance to state and national military history of all military branches, ranging in time from prior to the Spanish American War to World War II.

The museum offers exhibits, a research library, an image library with a number of online selections, and guided tours for school groups.

H. H. Bennett Studio and History Center [WI]

Description

The H.H. Bennett Studio and History Center houses many of the original photographs, glass plate negatives, photography inventions, cameras, and pieces of equipment which belonged to Henry Hamilton Bennett (1843–1908), one of the most widely regarded landscape photographers of the 19th century and creator of the "instantaneous shutter." Bennett is also known for his photographs of the Ho-Chunk Native American population. The studio, founded in 1875, is thought to be the oldest operating photography studio in the United States.

The center offers exhibits and standards-based guided tours for school groups.

Occoneechee State Park [VA]

Description

Occoneechee State Park contains 18.1 miles of trails which allow guests to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and 19th–century plantation life. The Occoneechee lived on this land between 1250 to 1676, and the visitor center displays a number of related artifacts. The landscaping of a 19–century plantation mansion (itself destroyed in a fire) can also be seen here.

The park offers a one-mile self-guided interpretive trail and exhibits.

Historical Society of Palm Beach County and Johnson Palm Beach County Museum [FL]

Description

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County promotes local history, in part through support of the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County Museum. Located in a historic 1916 courthouse, the museum presents artifacts that once belonged to Pre-Columbian inhabitants; Seminole Indians; early pioneers; the business and philanthropic community; educators; and influential leaders in communications, medicine, and politics.

The museum offers exhibits, a video display, and both self-guided and docent-guided tours. The society offers fourth-grade Florida history and preservation curricula, a seventh-grade county history and civics curriculum, several traveling trunks, docent-guided walking tours, lectures, an annual art contest with a historic theme, and a history institute for social studies and history teachers.

Homolovi Ruins State Park [AZ]

Description

Homolovi Ruins State Park serves as a center of research for the late migration period of the Hopi (the 13th and 14th century). While archaeologists study the sites and confer with the Hopi to unravel the history of Homolovi, Arizona State Parks provides the opportunity for guests to visit the visitor center, museum, various trails, and campground. The Hopi people supported the creation of the 4,000 acre park in order to protect the ruins of their prehistoric ancestors, the Hisat'sinom (known to archaeologists as the Anasazi) who were believed to have lived in the Homolovi pueblos.

The park offers exhibits and a podcast audio tour of the Homolovi II site (available online).

Washington State Capital Museum and Outreach Center

Description

The Washington State Capital Museum and Outreach Center is located in the historic Lord Mansion (built 1923 as a Spanish Colonial style villa), and is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and culture of Washington. Topics covered include regional Native American history and Olympia as Washington's capital. The Delbert McBride Ethnobotanical Garden, located on the grounds of the museum, displays a selection of Northwest flowers, shrubs, and trees that have been used for food, tools, and medicine by the Native American tribes in Western Washington.

The museum offers exhibits, a garden, lecture series, guided tours, exhibit enrichment classes taught by professional artists and historians, and a traveling trunk.