Glen Foerd [PA]

Description

Glen Foerd is the final remaining riverfront estate within Philadelphia. Originally erected circa 1850, the residence is now most overtly Italianate in style. Residents have included Charles Macalester, businessman and broker, and Robert and Caroline Foerderer of Vici Kid, a kid skin company. Sights include the main residence, a boat house, a water tower, a carriage house, and a gate house.

The estate offers period rooms, guided tours, group tours, group tour and meal packages. Two days advance notice is needed for tours, and tours with meals require two weeks advance notice. The website offers historical photographs.

Canterbury Shaker Village [NH]

Description

The 694-acre Canterbury Shaker Village contains 29 Shaker buildings—25 restored and 4 reconstructed. The site preserves the 200-year history of the Canterbury Shakers. Historically, the village was founded in 1792; and, by the 1850s, was home to more than 300 people. Shaker beliefs included using dance as a communal form of communication with God, equality of the sexes, group ownership, and celibacy. Collections consist of more than 30,000 artifacts.

The village offers exhibits, period rooms, three guided tours, self-guided tours, family tours, guided student tours and activities, hayrides, workshops, family activities, educational programs, hiking trails, craft demonstrations, outreach programs, traveling trunks, summer camps, a reading room, archival access, and food for purchase. The reading room and archival documents are available by appointment. Reservations are required for field trip groups. The website offers virtual exhibits on Shaker pets, maple syrup gathering, dentistry, architectural re-use, and area tourism. The website offers games and supplementary materials for teachers and lesson plans.

Anoka County History Center and Library [MN]

Description

The Anoka County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Anoka County, Minnesota. To this end, the society operates a research center with more than 750 books and thousands of archival documents; and boasts ownership of more than 47,000 cataloged items.

The society offers exhibits, living history outreach programs, traveling trunks for rental, downtown walking ghost tours, library access, and research assistance. A fee is charged for research assistance. Reservations are required for outreach programs and ghost tours. The website links to the society's monthly history television program, which can be viewed online.

American Swedish Institute [MN]

Description

The American Swedish Institute is a historic house museum, cultural center, and history and culture museum dedicated to the history, culture, and accomplishments of Swedish Americans. The institute is located within an early-20th century chateauesque mansion. Exhibit topics include immigration, craft traditions, homeland nostalgia, historical Swedish populations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Swedish-American vaudeville.

The institute offers period rooms; exhibits; group tours; children's language and culture classes; summer day camps; a Lucia choir; customizable school tours; student educational programs; and student outreach programs, including role-playing, living history, and storytelling presentations. Reservations are required for group tours and all student programs.

Raynham Hall Museum [NY]

Description

The Raynham Hall Museum is a historic home depicting life between the 1770s and 1870s. Samuel Townsend, a prosperous international merchant, purchased the property in 1738. Townsend later served on the New York Provincial Congress. Between 1778 and 1779, the Queen's Rangers, led by English Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), made the Patriot family's home their headquarters. During this time, legend has it, Sally Townsend overheard Benedict Arnold's plan to surrender the West Point fort to the British; and informed the Culper Spy Ring about Benedict (1741-1801) and his accomplice Major John Andre (1750-1780). The site displays over 500 artifacts, including pieces owned by the Townsends and others made in Long Island.

The museum offers colonial and Victorian period rooms, colonial- and Victorian-style gardens, and children's summer workshops.

Bayfield Heritage Association and Heritage Center [WI]

Description

The Bayfield Heritage Association seeks to preserve and share the history of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands region, Wisconsin. To this end, the association operates the Bayfield Heritage Association Heritage Center. Key topics include settlement, logging, brownstone quarries, agriculture, fishing, tourism, and transportation.

The center offers exhibits, a period barbershop, tours, educational programs, and seminars. Upon request, the center will play filmed oral history interviews in which residents discuss when and how their families came to the area.

Jack London State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Jack London State Historic Park is a memorial to writer and adventurer Jack London, who made his home at the site from 1905 until his death in 1916. The park was once part of the famous writer's Beauty Ranch. The park contains the cottage residence where he wrote books, short stories, articles, and letters while he oversaw various agricultural enterprises. After London's death, his wife, Charmian, continued to live in the cottage until her death in 1955. It was her wish that the ranch be preserved in memory of Jack London and his work. There is a museum in "The House of Happy Walls," which Mrs. London built in a redwood grove.

The park offers tours and exhibits.

Banneker-Douglass Museum [MD]

Description

The Banneker-Douglass Museum presents African American history within Maryland. Collections include vernacular artifacts, art from both Maryland and Africa, rare books, and documents.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, traveling exhibits, and non-circulating library access. Two weeks advance notice is required for school groups desiring a guided tour.