Farmers' Bank [VA]
One of the nation's only bank museums, the Farmer's Bank was incorporated in 1812 and opened its Petersburg branch in 1817. The first floor is now exhibited as a bank.
The bank is open to the public.
There is still gold in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, in historic Mariposa. This is where explorers John C. Fremont and Kit Carson found the rich Mariposa Vein and opened the first mill to crush ore and extract gold in California. Visitors can discover for themselves California's mineral wealth, colorful history, and geologic diversity as they view the official mineral collection of the state of California. The collection, which began in 1880, contains over 13,000 objects including mining artifacts, rare specimens of crystalline gold in its many forms, as well as beautiful gem and mineral specimens from California and around the world. The museum displays the Fricot "Nugget," a rare specimen of crystallized gold discovered in the American River in 1864. This 13.8-pound specimen is the largest remaining intact mass of crystalline gold from 19th-century California, when these finds were more common but usually were simply melted down. Visitors can also take a trip back in time as they walk through a mine tunnel and see how gold was mined in the mid-1800s, when California was a wilderness, being transformed by rapid development. The museum's assay office and working scale model of a stamp mill will help visitors discover how gold was found and extracted from the rocks.
The museum offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, and educational and recreational events.
One of the nation's only bank museums, the Farmer's Bank was incorporated in 1812 and opened its Petersburg branch in 1817. The first floor is now exhibited as a bank.
The bank is open to the public.
Originally a cranberry farm and packing plant, the former company town called Double Trouble is a window into past and current industries in the Pinelands. The Double Trouble Company was formed to sell timber, millwork products, and cranberries. A succession of sawmills has been on site since the mid-1700s. The village consists of cranberry bogs and 14 original historic structures dating from the late 19th century through the early 20th century including a general store, a schoolhouse and cottages.
The site offers tours.
"Organized in 1986, the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame honors our own heroes and legends, spanning the rich history of sports achievement in the Lake Michigan shoreline area anchored by Ludington to the North and Grand Haven to the south."
The 1925 Casa del Herrero, meaning "house of the blacksmith," is a Spanish Colonial-style estate. The home is furnished with pieces original to the site; and contains drawings, sketchbooks, horticultural records, antiques, and books, which once belonged to the family in residence. The grounds contain extensive gardens. During the 1920s, a new form of distinctive California landscape design inspired by Spanish land and gardens rose to prominence. While the site name includes the word "blacksmith," the owner George Fox Steedman was an engineer by trade and a silversmith for enjoyment.
The site offers period rooms; gardens; guided tours of the residence, workshop, and gardens; and guided group tours. Tours are by reservation only, and all participating children must be at least 10 years of age. With the exception of holiday tours, tours are available between mid-February and mid-November only.
The Thompson-Ames Historical Society of Gilford seeks to preserve and share the history of Gilford, NH and its people. Particular emphasis is given to Gilford's agricultural history. The society operates three museum structures—the 1834 Union Meetinghouse, John J. Morrill Store of 1857, and the circa 1838 Benjamin Rowe House. The Meetinghouse holds local history exhibits which address religion, leisure activities, military history, and agriculture. The site also contains a Victorian period room and town hall and schoolhouse settings. Highlights include a horsehair sofa, ice fishing equipment, and an eight-foot traverse sled. The Greek Revival Morrill Store used to serve as the meeting place for a farmer's organization. The interior contains an 1800s homestead living room setting; an 1857 store setting; a circa 1940 kitchen; historic signs; musical instruments; and artifacts related to the Grange, New Hampshire government, and local theater. The Greek Revival Benjamin Rowe House is furnished to the style of the 19th and early 20th centuries on the ground floor and the 20th century on the upper floor.
The society offers exhibits, period rooms, tours, school tours, and archive access. Archival materials include transcriptions and recordings of oral histories.
"Exhibits at the Museum of Small Town Life emphasize society, commercial industry, trade, cost of living, occupations, and consumer goods utilized by the ordinary citizens of late 19th century Delaware small towns."
The Josephine County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Josephine County, OR. To this end, the society operates the Schmidt House Museum and a research library. The Craftsmen-style Schmidt House was completed in 1910. Today the interior contains many pieces which once belonged to the daughters of the original owners. The museum houses exhibits on children's life, sewing, period kitchen work, the owner's circa 1900 grocery shop, and local historical topics. Oral interpretation uses the Schmidt family to discuss local homesteading, domestic life, business, farming, gold mining, and transportation.
The society offers exhibits, guided tours, living history outreach programs, research library access, and research assistance. A fee is charged for use of the library by non-members and for research conducted upon request.
The California Automobile Museum presents more than 160 historic automobiles, including hot rods, race cars, classic cars, muscle cars, and early models. Vehicles in the collection range from an 1882 horse-drawn wagon to a 2003 Fuel Cell Mercedes Benz Necar 4A. Permanent exhibits address clean fuel alternatives, vehicles until 1906, vehicles between 1906 and 1918, pre-Depression vehicles, Depression vehicles, cars designed to impress, speed vehicles, and the evolution of automotive technology.
The museum offers exhibits, family programs, guided student tours, outreach speakers, and research services. Reservations for student tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. A fee is charged for research conducted upon request.
The Historical Society of Cecil County seeks to preserve and share the history of Cecil County, MD and its people. To this end, the society operates a research library and museum. The library offers 12,000 newspapers, more than 2,000 books, souvenir booklets, pamphlets, various photographic media, letters, wills, land records, receipts, organization records, and other materials. Museum collections include furnishings, Victorian dollhouses, local artworks, and other artifacts. The museum's permanent exhibits address military history, log home living, country stores, and kitchens in early colonial America.
The society offers exhibits, period rooms, and research library access. The website offers collection indexes.