Mammoth Spring State Park [AR]

Description

Mammoth Spring, the 10th largest spring in the world, and a National Natural Landmark, flows nine million gallons of water each hour. Following the Civil War, this immense water source attracted industrialists who built a gristmill, and later, a dam here. Next, the investors opened large roller mills and a shoe factory. Soon after, the railroad arrived. Still standing near the spring is the charming 1886 Frisco Depot. At the dam, you can walk through the 1925 power plant that brought electricity to the region long before most other rural areas.

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

Scotty's Castle [CA]

Description

Scotty's Castle, or the Death Valley Ranch, was designed as a vacation home for a wealthy Chicago couple, Albert Mussey Johnson and his wife Bessie. However, according to legend, it was built by Walter Scott or "Death Valley Scotty" with the earnings from his secret mines. The site interprets the Roaring 20s and the 1930s, which suffered from the Great Depression. Construction was permanently halted in 1931 when Johnson and Scott discovered that the site was located on government land.

The home offers 50-minute living history tours, tours for students, exhibits, a snack bar, and picnic areas. Tours interpret the year 1939. Tour transcriptions are available in Japanese, German, Dutch, Korean, Russian, Slovenian, Italian, Czech, Danish, Spanish, and French. The website offers a virtual tour.

The second floor is temporarily inaccessible by wheelchair. Gasoline is currently unavailable on site. The nearest gasoline is located 45 miles from the site.

Cornwall Iron Furnace [PA]

Description

Cornwall Furnace is a unique survivor of the early American iron industry. Originally built by Peter Grubb in 1742, the furnace underwent extensive renovations in 1856–57 under its subsequent owners, the Coleman family, and closed in 1883. It is this mid-19th-century ironmaking complex which survives today. At Cornwall, furnace, blast equipment, and related buildings still stand as they did over a century ago. Here visitors can explore the rambling Gothic Revival buildings where cannons, stoves, and pig iron were cast, and where men labored day and night to satisfy the furnace's appetite for charcoal, limestone, and iron ore.

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

National Canal Museum [PA]

Description

The National Canal Museum presents the story of U.S. towpath canals. Galleries include an interactive 90-foot model canal, the life of canal workers, and Lehigh Valley railroading. Other sights include the Emrick Technology Center, displaying Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania's industrial past; the Hugh Moore Park, which contains a canal boat and locks, as well as industrial ruins; and a locktender's house with period rooms and costumed interpreters.

The museum offers interactive exhibits, period rooms, costumed interpreters, full-day curriculum-based living history programs for students, a canal life outreach program for students, a traveling trunk, archive access, and canal boat rides. Canal boat rides are available May 14th through September seventh. Payment of a daily fee is required of non-members using the archive. The website offers Flash games and curricula.

Ramsey County Historical Society and Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life [MN]

Description

The Ramsey County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of St. Paul and Ramsey County, MN. To this end, the society operates the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life. The Gibbs Museum consists of the 1854 home of pioneers Herman and Jane Gibbs, a replica of their earlier c. 1849 sod home, their 1910 barn, a later barn, an 1880s schoolhouse, Dakotah style tipi, a replica Dakotah bark lodge, prairie, an orchard, Dakotah and pioneer crops, and a Dakotah medicine garden. Jane Gibbs was raised near the Dakotah, learning their language as a child; and she and the local Dakotah maintained a friendship throughout her life. Other exhibits and a research center are located at the society's headquarters.

The society offers period rooms, exhibits, tours led by costumed interpreters, group tours, gardens, farm animals, summer camps, lectures, research center access, and picnic tables. Reservations are required for group tours, and picnic tables are available with advance notice. Group tours focus on pioneer or Dakotah life, although tours can be given other areas of emphasis upon request. Students as young as preschoolers are welcome. The research center is open by appointment only.

First Due Fire Museum [MO]

Description

The First Due Fire Museum addresses fire safety, firefighting history, and modern firefighting. Collection highlights include an 1820 hose cart, uniforms, and breathing apparatus. The museum is staffed with professional firefighters.

The museum offers exhibits and interactive stations.

Benicia Historical Museum [CA]

Description

The Benecia Historical Museum presents the history and influence of Benecia, CA and the Benecia Arsenal, in use 1853 through at least 1886. Located in two arsenal buildings, exhibits address blacksmithing, painting, ferrying, ductwork, industry, and a general history of Benecia. The Benecia Arsenal held the 1864 auction of 34 military camels. In 1855, Jefferson Davis, while U.S. Secretary of War, imported more than 70 camels to carry military cargo through desert regions. By 1864, the experiment was considered a failure, as the camel's stubborn nature led to general troop dislike of the creatures; and the remaining camels were sold.

The museum offers exhibits, guided group tours, guided student tours with hands-on activities, traveling trunks, concerts, and a garden. Traveling trunks address Native American life and Spanish missions. Reservations are required for group and student tours. The Powder Magazine is open by appointment only. The website offers historical photographs and drawings.

Charlevoix Historical Society and Harsha House Museum [MI]

Description

The Charlevoix Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Charlevoix, MI area and its people. To this end, the society operates the Harsha House Museum. The 1891 Harsha House contains three period rooms, local history exhibits, a 1917 player piano, and a research library with oral histories.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, research library access, and research assistance.

The Slaughter Ranch [AZ]

Description

The Slaughter Ranch is a 19th century ranch once owned by "Texas" John Slaughter, a powerful cattle rancher and legendary sheriff in modern day Arizona. The 1893 ranch consists of a five bedroom ranch house, an ice house, a wash house, a granary, a commissary, and a car shed.

Groups may tour the house and grounds, as well as use the designated picnic area.

Braintree Historical Society, Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace, and Museum [MA]

Description

The Braintree Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Braintree, MA and its people. To this end, the society operates the Gilbert Bean Museum of local history, a research library, and the Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace. The research library collections include town records dating from 1640 onward, archival materials, and a display of military artifacts. Thayer (1785-1872) advocated engineering education, and is known as the "father of West Point." His birthplace holds exhibits on the railway, military history, and coopers, as well as circa 1785 period rooms.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours of the Thayer house, and research library access. Appointments are necessary for all visits, with the exception of Thayer house tours taking place April through November.