Iron Industry Museum [MI]

Description

The Iron Industry Museum traces the development of the industry in the state. Located at the site of the first iron forge in the Lake Superior region, it presents indoor exhibits and outdoor interpretive paths that lead visitors through the 19th-century origins of the industry forwards.

The museum offers exhibits and a short audiovisual presentation.

Museums of Oglebay Institute [WV]

Description

The Oglebay Institute maintains two museums: the Wheeling Mansion Museum and the Glass Museum. Built in 1846 by Hanson Chapline, Oglebay Institute's Mansion Museum was originally an eight-room farmhouse; today, it serves as a museum of local history. Situated adjacent to the Mansion, the Oglebay Institute Glass Museum displays cut-lead crystal, Victorian art glass, Peachblow, pattern and depression and Northwood's carnival glass, and many other glass examples showcasing Ohio Valley history. Visitors can also watch skilled glass artisans at work.

The museums offer exhibits, educational programs for school groups, workshops and classes, and recreational and educational events.

Texas Maritime Museum

Description

The Texas Maritime Museum provides exhibits on the history and technology of offshore petroleum production and transportation; the history and development of Texas seaports, maritime communities, and maritime commerce along the Gulf; the exploration and settlement history of the Texas Gulf Coast, including by the Spanish and the French; and an overview of the Texas seafood and fishing industry.

The museum offers exhibits, tours for school groups, in-class outreach presentations, traveling trunk "treasure chests" for loan, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue [PA]

Description

The Hershey Story takes visitors on a journey through the life of Milton S. Hershey: the man, his chocolate company, the town that bears his name, and his legacy. It explores the accomplishments of an American entrepreneur through interactive museum exhibits and laboratory classes.

The museum offers exhibits, in-museum interactive classes and scavenger-hunt tours for school groups, workshops for visitors, and educational and recreational events.

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum [OK]

Description

The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is America's premier institution of Western history, art, and culture, collecting, preserving, and exhibiting a collection of Western art and artifacts.

The Museum offers educational programs suitable for grades K-6, focusing on the American Cowboy or American Indian. Students spend time in a classroom setting participating in hands-on activities with Museum artifacts then take a guided tour of art and historical galleries with special exhibits supporting the chosen theme. Programs meet select Oklahoma PASS skills for Art and Social Studies.

Guided tours are provided for grades 7-12 and can be tailored to specific themes. Traveling Trunks also are available for two week periods and focus on American Indian or American Cowboy lifestyle or Oklahoma history.

Strong National Museum of Play [NY]

Description

Strong National Museum of Play houses the National Toy Hall of Fame, the National Center for the History of Electronic Games, and the world's largest collection of toys, dolls, games, and other items that celebrate play. Visitors may explore both interactive exhibits designed for children and display exhibits preserving and presenting the history of play. History-relevant exhibits for children include One History Place and TimeLab, which explore U.S. history and pop culture history, respectively.

The museum offers exhibits and a range of educational programs, including standards-based tours for student groups and orientation programs for educators.

Louisiana State Museum - Patterson

Description

The Louisiana State Museum - Patterson is the official state aviation and cypress sawmill industry museum and houses two important collections documenting state history.

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection focuses on the legacy of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams who formed an air service in Patterson in 1928. Both men became nationally prominent during what was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Although both Wedell and Williams perished in plane crashes, their legacy lives on in the memorabilia and planes on display.

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana. Lumbering became the state's first significant manufacturing industry. As a result, cypress lumber harvested and milled in Louisiana was shipped in mass quantities across the United States. The town of Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams, and in 1997 the Louisiana State Legislature designated Patterson as the cypress capitol of Louisiana. The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, photographs, and film that tell the story of this important regional industry.

In addition, the museum also has a changing exhibit gallery that highlights other aspects of Louisiana's culture and history, and provides school tours and accompanying enhanced curriculum guides.

1850 House [LA]

Description

The Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings, which make up the 1850 House, were built by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, the daughter of Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, the Spanish colonial landowner associated with the neighboring Cabildo, Cathedral, and Presbytere. Inspired by the imposing Parisian architecture the Baroness favored, the rowhouses were intended to serve as both elegant residences and fine retail establishments.

To illustrate the landmark's historical significance, the State Museum has recreated what one of the residences would have looked like during the Antebellum era when the Baroness Pontalba first opened her doors. Furnished with domestic goods, decorative arts, and art of the period, the 1850 House depicts middle-class family life during the most prosperous period in New Orleans's history. Limited docent- and curator-led tours are available, as is self-directed viewing.

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum [IN]

Description

The Museum exhibits over 120 cars ranging from 1894 to 1999 and automotive displays on three floors. The museum has the most extensive collection of Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles in the world, and features the largest exhibit of Duesenberg automobiles on public display in the world.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, research library access, educational programs, and recreational and educational events.