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.

Brooklyn Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Brooklyn Historical Society is dedicated to chronicling the history of Brooklyn, from its origins over 200 years ago to its modern day state as a borough of New York City. The society is located in downtown Brooklyn in a building that was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 for its fabulous Queen-Anne style architecture. In addition to a local history museum, the society also is home to an extensive collection of historical artifacts and documents.

The society offers guided tours, school outreach programs, teacher development, exhibits, research resources, and field trip programs. The website offers visitor information, a calendar of events, library access, and historical information regarding Brooklyn.

La Purísima Mission State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Misión la Purísima Concepción de María Santísima (Mission of the Immaculate Conception of Most Holy Mary) was founded by Father Presidente Fermin de Lasuén on December 8, 1787. It was the 11th of 21 Franciscan Missions established in Alta California. A major earthquake on December 21, 1812, destroyed many of the mission buildings. Father Mariano Payeras received permission to relocate the mission community four miles to the northeast in La Cañada de los Berros, next to El Camino Real. La Purísima Mission was officially established in its new location on April 23, 1813. Materials salvaged from the buildings destroyed by the earthquake were used to construct the new buildings, which were completed within 10 years. The end of the California missions came in 1834, when the Mexican government, which had gained independence from Spain, transferred control of the missions from the Catholic Church to civil authorities. Today, La Purísima Mission State Historic Park is considered the most completely restored mission in California, with 10 of the original buildings fully restored and furnished, including the church, shops, quarters, and blacksmith shop. The mission gardens and livestock represent what would have been found at the mission during the 1820s. Special living history events are scheduled throughout the year. A visitor center features information, displays, and artifacts; and a self-guided tour gives visitors the opportunity to step back in time for a glimpse of a brief, turbulent period in California's history.

The site offers exhibits, tours, living history events, educational programs, and occasional other educational and recreational 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.

Phelps Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Phelps Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Phelps, New York. To this end, the society operates a museum and the circa 1835 Country Lawyer's Office. The museum is located within the 1869 Second Empire-style Howe House, and presents exhibits on historical households and farming life.

The society offers exhibits, customizable group programs, and access to the Country Lawyer's Office. The law office is open by appointment only.

Camden County Historical Society, Pomona Hall, and Museum [NJ]

Description

The Camden County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Camden County, New Jersey. To this end, the society operates a 20,000 volume library, the circa 1788 Georgian-style Pomona Hall, and a museum. Pomona Hall offers a glimpse of daily life following the Revolutionary War. The museum presents 300 years of area history, including exhibits on weaving, farming, education, blacksmithing, and transportation.

The society offers research library access, a traveling trunk, and school outreach presentations. Pomona Hall offers period rooms, open hearth cooking demonstrations, spinning demonstrations for students, and student tours. The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, and student tours. Payment of a fee is required for non-members to use the research library.

Gaineswood State Historic Site [AL]

Description

Gaineswood is one of America's finest Greek Revival houses. Exceptional interior spaces have domed ceilings, elaborate plasterwork, and a facing pair of gilt mirrors that endlessly reflect each other. Designed by owner and amateur architect General Nathan Bryan Whitfield, Gaineswood was constructed during 1843–1861. Some of the elaborate work was executed by African-American slaves. The house museum contains many original Whitfield family furnishings and objects. The grounds feature a gazebo, a slave house, and a small building that was most likely a detached kitchen.

The site offers tours and educational programs.

Queens Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Queens Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Queens, New York City. To this end, the society operates a museum, library, and archive. The museum of Queens history is located within the colonial Kingsland Homestead. A permanent exhibit within the museum addresses the history of the homestead itself.

The society offers exhibits, Kingsland Homestead tours for students, walking tours, lectures, slide presentations, and library access. Appointments are required for library access and for group tours. The website offers information on the society's teaching aids, which are available for purchase.

Kentucky Historical Society

Description

The Kentucky Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the state of Kentucky. To this end, the society operates the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and Special Collections, the Old State Capitol, and the Kentucky Military History Museum. The center presents Kentucky history and famous figures from Kentucky, including Daniel Boone and Ashley Judd. The library houses more than 90,000 published works, as well as archival materials. The Old State Capitol was the first Greek Revival structure west of the Appalachians, and was used between 1830 and 1910. The military museum, located within the Old State Arsenal, presents state military history.

The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History offers exhibits and research library access. The Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and Special Collections offers research library and archives access. The Old State Capitol offers period rooms. The Kentucky Military History Museum offers exhibits. Reservations are required for group tours. Curriculum-based interactive tours are available for students. The society also offers children's activities, a junior historical society, theatrical productions, monthly brown bag lectures, geneaology workshops, teacher workshops, and an annual Kentucky history conference.

The Kentucky Military History Museum is closed for renovations.