Riversdale Historic House Museum [MD]

Description

Riversdale, a National Historic Landmark, is a restored, five-part, stucco-covered brick plantation home built between 1801 and 1807. Construction of this elegant manor house was begun by Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and was completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore. The Federal style mansion has particularly fine interior decorative detail. Numerous nationally significant figures later lived there.

A second website, for the Riverside Historical Society, which supports maintenance and interpretation of the house, can be found here.

The house offers tours, exhibits, educational programs, workshops and classes, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Bronx County Historical Society, Poe Cottage, and the Museum of Bronx History [NY]

Description

The Bronx County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Bronx, New York City. To this end, the society operates a research library, the county archives, the Poe Cottage, and a local history museum within the 1758 Valentine-Varian House. The 1812 Poe Cottage was Edgar Allan Poe's final home. He lived on site between 1846 and 1849. "Annabel Lee" was written during this time. Poe (1809-1849) is credited with creating the detective fiction genre, as well as being an early writer of American short stories. He is classified as a Romantic author; and his poetry, short stories, and novels lean toward the macabre. Famous works include "The Raven," "The Black Cat," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "Annabel Lee."

The society offers student tours and interactive activities in both historic homes, presentations for students, outreach programs for students, and neighborhood walking tours for students. The Poe Cottage offers period rooms, an introductory video, and guided tours. The Museum of Bronx History offers rotating exhibits. Both the archives and research library are open to the public by appointment. Payment of a fee is required for research assistance.

The Poe Cottage is undergoing renovations. Please check the website to verify that it will be open at the time which you wish to visit.

Big Springs Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Big Springs Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Caledonia-Mumford community, New York. To this end, the society operates a museum. Museum collections include Caledonia’s Seth Green Fish Hatchery artifacts, costumes and textiles, military artifacts, religious artifacts, educational artifacts, natural history samples, fine and decorative arts, and Native American artifacts.

The society offers exhibits and on site research assistance.

Old Dutch Parsonage and Wallace House [NJ]

Description

The parsonage was built in 1751 and first occupied by Reverend John Frelinghuysen, who came from Amsterdam to serve three congregations of the Dutch Reform church in the upper Raritan Valley. The second occupant of the Parsonage, the Reverend Jacob Hardenbergh, founded Queens College in 1766 while residing in the house. While living at the Dutch Parsonage, Hardenbergh sold 95 acres of land and a small farmhouse to John Wallace, a Philadelphia fabric importer and merchant. Between 1775 and 1776, Wallace purchased an additional 12 acres of land and built an eight-room Georgian style mansion adjoining part of the existing farmhouse. It was the largest house built in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. Naming his estate "Hope Farm," Wallace intended the property to be his country seat and place of retirement.

The site offers tours.

Scituate Historical Society [MA]

Description

The Scituate Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of Scituate, Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Southern Shore. The society maintains nine historic sites throughout Scituate, including a local history museum, lighthouse, and several historic house museums.

The society offers guided tours and field trip programs in conjunction with all of its historic sites, school outreach programs, and exhibits on local and maritime history. The website offers visitor information, historical information regarding the society's historic structures, and information about upcoming events.

Washington County Historical Society & Museum [WI]

Description

The Washington County Historical Society & Museum is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage of West Bend, WI. The society owns and operates three historic structures, the Old Courthouse Museum, the Old Jailhouse Museum, and the St. Agnes Historic Site. The society also offers a research center, which showcases the society's impressive collections of local historic documents and artifacts.

The society offers guided tours of their museums, exhibits on local history, bimonthly presentations, and "Discovery Boxes" for local schoolchildren. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of Washington County, virtual tours of the society's three museums, and an events calendar.

Old World Wisconsin [WI]

Description

Old World Wisconsin is a large living history museum that showcases the lives of early Wisconsin settlers. Old World Wisconsin is home to several seperate attractions, including working historic farms as well as a carefully reconstructed historic village.

Old World Wisconsin offers guided tours, workshops, hands on historical activities, field trip programs, summer camps, and special events. The website offers visitor information and an events calendar.