Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, New York and Museums

Description

The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, New York seeks to preserve and share the history and historical structures of Warwick, New York. To this end, the society offers several museum buildings. These include the 1764 Shingle House, the 1890 Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad Caboose, circa 1825 Sly Barn, the 1819 Old School Baptist Meeting House, the 1810 House, the 1766 Baird's Tavern, and the Carriage House at Baird's Tavern. The 1810 House grounds contain a wheel garden; the Sly Barn contains a wide variety of farming tools and household appliances; and the Carriage House holds a recreated circa 1900 rural doctor's office.

The Shingle House, 1810 House, Baird's Tavern, and the Carriage House offer period rooms. The 1810 House offers exhibits and a wheel garden. The society offers tours.

Ybor City Museum State Park [FL]

Description

Don Vicente Martinez Ybor came to the frontier near Tampa and built a city that became the "Cigar Capital of the World." From the opening of the first cigar factory in 1886 until the 1930s, Ybor City flourished. This urban park is dedicated to the preservation of Ybor City's cultural heritage. The museum, housed in the historic Ferlita Bakery, traces the rich cultural history of Ybor City and the cigar-making industry. The museum has self-guided exhibits, with written and audio information, and a video presentation.

The park offers a short film, exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.

Freetown Village [IN]

Description

Freetown Village presents the history and culture of the approximately 3,000 free African Americans known to have been living in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1870. The content focus is on the Fourth Ward, which is Indianapolis' oldest African American settlement.

The village offers a summer camp for five through 14 year old children, interactive plays, spiritual music performances, and hands-on children's workshops. With the exception of the summer camp, all programs are available as outreach programming in Indiana and nearby states.

Raynham Hall Museum [NY]

Description

The Raynham Hall Museum is a historic home depicting life between the 1770s and 1870s. Samuel Townsend, a prosperous international merchant, purchased the property in 1738. Townsend later served on the New York Provincial Congress. Between 1778 and 1779, the Queen's Rangers, led by English Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), made the Patriot family's home their headquarters. During this time, legend has it, Sally Townsend overheard Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender the West Point fort to the British; and informed the Culper Spy Ring about Benedict (1741-1801) and his accomplice Major John Andre (1750-1780). The site displays over 500 artifacts, including pieces owned by the Townsends and others made in Long Island.

The museum offers colonial and Victorian period rooms, colonial- and Victorian-style gardens, and children's summer workshops.

Bayfield Heritage Association and Heritage Center [WI]

Description

The Bayfield Heritage Association seeks to preserve and share the history of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands region, Wisconsin. To this end, the association operates the Bayfield Heritage Association Heritage Center. Key topics include settlement, logging, brownstone quarries, agriculture, fishing, tourism, and transportation.

The center offers exhibits, a period barbershop, tours, educational programs, and seminars. Upon request, the center will play filmed oral history interviews in which residents discuss when and how their families came to the area.

Hood River County Historical Museum [OR]

Description

Hood River County Historical Museum presents the socio-cultural history of Hood River County, Oregon. Topics addressed within permanent exhibits include the daily lives of pioneer, Native American, and area ethnic groups, as well as Japanese Internment after Pearl Harbor.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, self-guided tours, activity tours, research assistance, a traveling trunk on the local fruit industry, and several school tour options. All guided tours are customized to group needs. Payment is required for research assistance.

Huntingdon County Historical Society [PA]

Description

The Huntingdon County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. The society seeks to achieve this aim through special presentations and through the society's three properties, the Mc Murtrie House Museum, the 1823 Shaver's Creek Presbyterian Church, and the J.C. Blair Company Museum.

The society offers guided tours of all of their properties, periodic lectures on local history, historical exhibits, and a research library. The website offers visitor information, genealogical research resources, and general information regarding the society.

Fort Benton [MT]

Description

Fort Benton is located on the banks of the Missouri River and served as a fur trading outpost. The fort was abandoned in the 1860s, and was occupied briefly by the U.S. military before it was finally abandoned for good in 1871. The fort has recently undergone an extensive renovation, and now serves as a museum of Montana history.

The fort offers exhibits, guided tours, and special events. The website offers visitor information and brief history of the fort.

Fresno Historical Society [CA]

Description

The Fresno Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Fresno, California, and of California's Central Valley, one of the five most fertile valleys in the world. The society also operates the Kearney Historic Site, which showcases the history of the valley through the home of Theo Kearney, a raisin mogul.

The society offers a lecture series, tours of the Kearney estate, field trip programs, and educational outreach programs. The website offers visitor information, a history of the society, a history of the Kearney Historic Site, and an events calendar.

Washington Crossing State Park and Johnson Ferry House [NJ]

Description

On December 25, 1776, the icy waters of the Delaware River provided the setting for one of the pivotal events of the American Revolution. The Continental Army had little to celebrate that Christmas and seemed beaten by hunger and cold. After crossing the rough winter river at night, General George Washington and the Continental Army landed at Johnson's Ferry, at the site now known as Washington Crossing State Park. At 4 am, they began their march to Trenton where they defeated the Hessian troops in an unexpected attack. This battle was quickly followed by the Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777, and the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. The Johnson Ferry House, an early 18th-century gambrel roof farmhouse and tavern near the Delaware River, was owned by Garret Johnson, who operated a 490-acre colonial plantation and a ferry service across the river in the 1700s. The house was likely used briefly by General Washington and other officers at the time of the Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. The keeping room, bedchamber, and textile room are furnished with local period pieces, probably similar to the furniture used by the Johnson family from 1740 to 1770. The site also includes an 18th-century kitchen garden.

The site offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, short film screenings, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).