Pardee Home Museum [CA]

Description

The Pardee Home Museum is the centerpiece of Oakland's Preservation Park Historic District, and is a phenomenal piece of 19th century architecture. The home was built by California Governer Enoch Pardee who became famous for his handling of the enormous earthquake in 1906. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and today stands as a historic house museum.

The home offers tours and an educational curriculum for fourth through sixth graders. The curriculum corresponds to collections inside the home. The website offers visitor information and basic historical information regarding the home.

Jacksonville Historical Society and Merrill House [FL]

Description

The Jacksonville Historical Society preserves the history of Jacksonville, Florida, and operates the 1886 Queen Anne-style Merrill House, which today serves as a historic house museum.

The society offers periodic guided tours of Jacksonville as well as a bookstore and a collection of photographs. The Merrill House is open year-round for tours and can accommodate groups by appointment. The website offers visitor information and histories of Jacksonville, the Merrill House, and the society, as well as special features which highlight particular aspects of Jacksonville's history.

Haas-Lilienthal House [CA]

Description

The Haas-Lilienthal House was built in 1886, and serves as an example of Queen Anne-style Victorian architecture. Today, the mansion is open as a historic house museum, fully furnished with period furniture.

The house offers docent-led tours, as well as historic photos of the house and the occupants. The website offers a history of the house and its tenants, visitor information, and a virtual tour.

Locust Grove Historic Home [KY]

Description

The Locust Grove Historic Home was first built in 1790, and is one of the first structures built in Kentucky. Today, the site serves as a historic house museum, and consists of the original house, the smoke house, and eight other stone and log supporting structures. Visitors to the site can view a collection of Kentucky-crafted furniture, time period artworks, and historic artifacts belonging to the home's tenants.

The house offers a collection of historic artifacts and antique furniture and daily tours, as well as a variety of special events, including children's events and an afternoon lecture series. The website offers a history of the home, an events calendar, visitor information, educational information including field trip information and worksheets for students, and information regarding upcoming events.

Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society [IL]

Description

The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the western section of Chicago, Illinois. In addition to actively aiding and encouraging preservation, the society owns and operates a small museum that showcases the history of the Rogers Park area.

The society offers exhibits. The website offers information regarding upcoming events, visitor information, and a brief history of the area.

Charleston Museum and Historic Houses [SC]

Description

The Charleston Museum has the distinction of being America's first museum. The museum focuses on the history of Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. In addition to the museum, the organization also maintains two historic houses, the 1803 Joseph Manigault House and the 1772 Heyward-Washington House.

The museum offers educational programs for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as presentations tailored specifically to home-schooled children. The museum also offers a variety of exhibits, including traveling exhibits, and guided tours; the two historic house museums are also open for tours. The website offers online lesson plans, visitor information, an events calendar, information regarding the museum's educational programs, and histories of the two historic house museums.

Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization [MT]

Description

In the summer of 1994 a group of residents of Butte, Montana, committed to the preservation and promotion of Butte's unique historical architecture, came together to form the Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization. CPR provides grants to improve buildings, educational tours, lectures, preservation workshops, and other events, liason with local government, business, and civic organizations, and the labor to restore, renovate and salvage historical buildings in the nation's largest National Historic Landmark District, encompassing 5,991 historically significant resources.

The organization offers a variety of educationally themed events and programs, ranging from walking tours to traveling speakers. The organization has also put out a variety of publications, which are available for purchase on the website. The website offers information about all organization activities, including grants, advocacy, educational programs, an events calendar, and an online store.

Banning Residence Museum [CA]

Description

The Banning Residence Museum chronicles the history and cultural context General Phineas Banning (1830-1885). General Banning is known as "The Father of the Port of Los Angeles," and is known for being one of the founders of the town of Wilmington as well as for founding the stage and shipping companies which would jump start the busy Port of Los Angeles. Banning was given the title of General after being appointed a Brigadier General of the First Brigade of the militia after he ceded land to the Union Army in order to build a fort in Wilmington.

The house museum is carefully preserved in its 19th century state, and offers visitors a snapshot of the home life of General Phineaus Banning. The website offers a first-person narrative which gives a brief biography of General Banning, an events calendar, and an online store.

Victorian Wheeling Landmarks Foundation [WV]

Description

Wheeling, WV, was once the home of some of the wealthiest families in the United States. Due to these families, Wheeling is home to some of America's finest examples of Victorian architecture. The Landmarks Foundation is dedicated to preserving and showcasing these homes and buildings. The society also owns and operates several Victorian properties available for rental.

The society offers costumed and guided tours of the houses. The website offers visitor information as well as a brief background for all of the houses.

Historic River Towns of Westchester [NY]

Description

The Historic River Towns of Westchester is a consortium of waterfront towns along New York's Hudson River. The organization works to promote and aid in historic and preservation efforts in the river front communities along the river.

The consortium offers guided tours, river cruises, and information about all historic museum located in the towns that make up the consortium. The site offers visitor information, information regarding the tours and cruises, and a calendar of events.