High Desert Museum [OR]

Description

The High Desert Museum presents the cultural, natural, and artistic histories of the High Desert, a region within southeastern Oregon. The site includes indoor exhibits, numerous wildlife enclosures, and a living history hall and 1880 homestead.

The museum offers a 15-minute introductory presentation, exhibits, period rooms, 30-minute to full-day guided tours, self-guided tours with pre- and post-visit activities, thematic school festivals, 30- to 90-minute outreach presentations, spring and summer camps, educator workshops, wildlife demonstrations and talks, 19th-century skill demonstrations, and a cafe. At least two weeks notice is required for group visits. Contact the museum for information on box or sack lunches.

Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture [WA]

Description

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture presents exhibits and information of cultural, historical, and/or artistic note. Collections include more than 68,000 artifacts from Europe, Asia, and both North and South America. Artifacts are of regional historical interest, works of art, and/or related to Native American populations. In addition to these exhibits, the museum operates the Campbell House which interprets daily life circa 1900.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, an activity area, activities to be completed throughout the museum, summer camps, thematic tours, traveling trunks, educator's workshops, public lectures, and a small restaurant. Wheelchairs are available. Advance registration of group visitation is appreciated, and appointments are necessary for research library and/or archival access. The website offers teacher resources and podcasts.

Due to financial necessity, the Campbell House is no longer open to the public. School groups may still schedule tours of the building.

Salisbury House and Gardens [IA]

Description

Salisbury House is modeled after a 15th-century English residence. The home was completed in 1928 for Carl Weeks, owner of Armand Cosmetics. It boasts a collection of more than 10,000 artifacts and objects from around the world—rare books, artwork, decorative arts, furnishings, and weaponry, among other categories.

The house offers tours and exhibits. Two weeks advance notice is required for groups of ten or more. A tour offered specifically for elementary school students is led by a costumed king or queen, who makes comparisons between the 16th-century, the 1920s, and modern day.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art [NC]

Description

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art is located in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and was originally built by Richard Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds tobacco company. The home was opened as an art museum in 1967, and since then has worked towards its mission of showcasing the very finest American art.

The museum offers galleries, an attached historic house museum, guided and self-guided tours, field trip programs, and summer camps. The website offers a history of the museum, information regarding current collections and exhibits, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Whitehall House & Gardens [KY]

Description

The Whitehall Mansion had its beginnings in the mid 19th century as a modest two story brick house. In 1909, when successful horseman and entrepreneur John Middleton bought the home, the home was converted into the impressive Greek Revival style mansion that stands today. Today the home stands as a historic house museum and is a popular venue for weddings and other special occasions.

The house offers guided and self-guided tours. The website offers a history of the home as well as visitor information.

George Eastman House [NY]

Description

The George Eastman House serves as both a historic house museum and an educational institution that chronicles the history of photography and motion pictures. In addition to exhibits on the history of photography and motion pictures, the George Eastman House boasts a world-renowned motion picture collection.

The museum offers guided tours, virtual field trips, field trip programs, traveling trunks, professional development for teachers, and a lecture series. The website offers information about all museum programs, visitor information, an events calendar, and a history of the home.

Also explore Discovery Kits Online, designed to make the collections and expertise available for teachers, students, and recreational learners. Discovery Kits were developed with the help of educators with attention to K-12 curricular goals and assessment methodologies. Each unit (kit) is designed to supply classroom-ready lesson plans and study materials that can be used in direct online interaction or as slide shows and printable resources for offline use.

Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust [IL]

Description

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust works to chronicle the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright, widely regarded as America's most influential architect. The trust maintains Wright's first home and studio, which is located in Oak Park, Illinois, and the Robie House, a masterpiece designed by Wright for his client Frederick Robie.

The trust offers a variety of guided and self guided tours of these landmark buildings. In addition, the trust offers the Wright Plus architectural housewalk, youth architecture workshops, field trip programs, and professional development programs for teachers. The website offers visitor information, a brief biography of Wright, information regarding the two homes maintained by the trust, and information regarding all of the trust's programs.

Historic Houston [TX]

Description

Historic Houston is dedicated to the preservation of Houston's historic and architectural heritage. In addition, Historic Houston is a leader is sustainable design, and has won several awards such as the "Outstanding Environmental Leadership Award."

Historic Houston offers an educational series of workshops, lectures, and classes that are open to the public and to school groups. The website offers general information about Historic Houston as well as information regarding the educational series.

Hammond Castle Museum [MA]

Description

The Hammond Castle Museum serves as both a historic home museum and a museum to the life and inventions of John Hays Hammond, Junior (1888-1965), inventor of radio wave remote control and possessor of 400 patents. The structure, completed in 1929, was designed to emulate Medieval castles, as Hammond was an avid collector of Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance artifacts and felt that architecture, above all else, gives one the sense of the existence of history and lives past.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, self-guided tours, guided tours, and educational programs. As the structure is historic, it was built prior to the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and, unfortunately, is not handicapped accessible. Reservations with at least two weeks advance notice are required for all school groups. Food is not permitted on the grounds.

Connecticut Valley Historical Museum

Description

The Connecticut Valley Historical Museum presents the history and traditions of Springfield, Connecticut and the Connecticut Valley through locally made objects. These objects include furniture, silver goods, motorcycles, antique automobiles, industrial artifacts, and historical firearms. The museum also celebrates famous people from the region, with Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel perhaps being most widely known. The library includes a collection of French Canadian church records.

The museum offers exhibits and a genealogy and local history library.