Empire Mine State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest, and richest gold mines in California. In existence for more than 100 years, the mine produced 5.6 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. The park contains many of the mine's buildings, the owner's home. and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles of abandoned and flooded mine shafts.

The park offers exhibits, tours, living history presentations and events, and occasional recreational and educational events.

North Tonawanda History Museum [NY]

Description

The North Tonawanda History Museum presents the history of North Tonawanda, New York. Particular emphasis is given to 19th- and 20th-century shipping and manufacturing, as well as immigration. Other major collection categories are Erie County, the Niagara River, and military history. Common area ethnic groups are well-represented in the collection; and include the Lebanese, Irish, Italian, German, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and Slovak.

The museum offers exhibits and walking tours for students or the general public. Tours are by reservation.

Atlanta History Center [GA]

Description

The Atlanta History Center consists of the Atlanta History Museum, Swan House, Tullie Smith Farm, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, historic gardens, Kenan Research Center, and the Margaret Mitchell House. The Atlanta History Museum depicts the story of Atlanta, GA, from early settlement to modern day. Permanent exhibits address historical development, the Civil War, folk arts, and golfer Bobby Jones. The Olympic museum presents the history of the Olympic Games and the sports which take place at the games via a collection of artifacts and photographs. Topics addressed include financing the event, community involvement, global travel to the Olympics, the bid process, and building game venues. The six historic gardens represent groups of people who influenced the development of Atlanta. The Kenan Research Center provides resources for the study of the history and culture of Atlanta and the South. Particular emphasis is given to gardens, military history, decorative arts, and genealogy. The 1928 Swan House portrays life in the 1920s-1930s; while the 1840s Tullie Smith Farm home is representative of area rural life, and is surrounded by outbuildings, such as a blacksmith shop. The Margaret Mitchell House is listed separately within this database.

The center offers guided student tours, self-guided student tours, traveling trunks, interactive outreach programs for students, homeschool days, educator workshops, lectures, toddler programs, summer camps, musical performances, gardens, and living history presentations. The Atlanta History Museum offers exhibits, summer camps, and a cafe. The Centennial Olympic Games Museum offers interactive and traditional exhibits, a sports lab, and multimedia presentations. The Kenan Research Center offers research library access. The Swan House offers an exhibit of decorative arts, audio tours, guided tours, and period rooms. The Tullie Smith Farm offers period rooms, guided tours, and demonstrations. The website offers lesson plans, a virtual tour, and a game based on the P.O.W. experience.

Kennebunkport Historical Society, Kennebunkport History Center, and the Nott House [ME]

Description

The Kennebunkport Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Kennebunkport, Maine. To this end, the society operates the Nott House and the Kennebunkport History Center. The Nott House is a Greek Revival historic home museum which primarily interprets Victorian life in the busy maritime center of Kennebunkport, Maine. However, the carpet, wallpaper, furniture, and other artifacts are all original to the home; and, as such, the site displays styles ranging from those of the late 18th century to circa 1950. The grounds hold the restored gardens. The Kennebunkport History Center consists of the Pasco Exhibit Center, which presents local history exhibits; Town House School, holding the society research center; Clark's Shipwright Office, covering Kennebunkport's maritime history; Old Jail Cells; and Benson Blacksmith Shop.

The Nott House offers period rooms, guided tours, and gardens. The Kennebunkport History Center offers exhibits, library access, research assistance, demonstrations, and activities. The society offers one-hour guided architectural walking tours and self-guided walking tours. Payment of an hourly fee is required to use the library. Reservations are appreciated for group visits to the Nott House and the Kennebunkport History Center. The jail cells and shipwright office are only open by appointment.

Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame [RI]

Description

The Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame celebrates the unique accomplishments of the Herreshoff family and the related drama of the America's Cup races. From 1863 to 1945, the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, on the site of the present day Museum, produced the world's finest yachts. The genius of naval architect Captain Nathanael Greene Herreshoff along with the business acumen of his blind older brother John Brown Herreshoff truly built the "better mouse trap" for which the world beat a path to Bristol. Today, visitors from around the world see the nation's finest collection of yachts, all Herreshoff and many more than 100 years old. They can view the design models recording Captain Nat's design genius and see the products of his innovations. The companion America's Cup Hall of Fame is the international center for appreciation of the Cup.

The museum offers exhibits, research library access, lectures, classes, and occasional recreational and educational programs; the hall offers exhibits.

Chateau De Mores State Historic Site [ND]

Description

This site memorializes the life and activities in North Dakota of Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, who arrived in 1883. Among his enterprises were a beef packing plant; a stagecoach line; a freighting company; refrigerated railway cars; cattle and sheep raising; land ownership; and a new town which he called Medora, in honor of his wife. The Chateau, a 26-room, two-story frame building, was built in 1883 as the summer residence of the Marquis's family. The Chateau is now a historic house museum and contains many of the original furnishings and personal effects of the de Mores family.

The site offers tours, exhibits, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Oregon Coast History Center [OR]

Description

The Oregon Coast History Center seeks to preserve and share the history of Lincoln County, Oregon and the Central Oregon Coast. To this end, the society operates the Burrows House and Log Cabin. The 1895 Queen Anne-style Burrows House. The house offers exhibits on local history, a law office setting, and a Victorian parlor. The Log Cabin presents Lincoln County history, including maritime history, local bridges, and Native American life. Plans exist to create a maritime history center. Collections include more than 40,000 artifacts dating as far back as 1850. Collection highlights include the charter boat, Kingfisher.

The center offers exhibits, period rooms, district walking tours, educational outreach programs, research library access, oral histories, and research assistance. The log cabin includes a children's hands-on learning area. Reservations are required for group tours.

Osage County Historical Society, Hawley Genealogical Research Center, and Museum [KS]

Description

The Osage County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Osage County, Kansas. To this end, the society operates a museum of local history. Topics addressed include business, farming, railways, coal mining, and family life. The area's ethnic heritage includes African Americans and English, Welsh, Swedish, French, Irish, German, and Italian immigrants.

The museum offers exhibits. The research center offers access to official Orange County records, as well as research assistance. Payment is required for research assistance.

Fulton County Historical Society and Museums [IN]

Description

The Fulton County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Fulton County, Indiana. To this end, the society operates a museum; a 1924 round barn, containing historic farming implements; a living history village; and a research library. Exhibit topics include music, art, living conditions between 1910 and 1935, toys, medicine, Native Americans, education, the military, recreation, trade, religion, and the circus.

The society also manages another site (www.potawatomi-tda.org) which shows the Potawatomi Trail of Death 1838 diary, photos of all 78 historical markers and of the many Potawatomi who had ancestors on the Trail of Death from Indiana to Kansas, exhibits, period rooms, a tour and scavenger hunt for students, and research library access.