Liberty Hall Historic Site [KY]

Description

The Liberty Hall Historic Site presents the life of Senator John Brown (1757-1837) and his descendants. Margaretta Mason Brown, John's wife, promoted abolitionism and women's education. The site consists of the 1796 Federal-style Liberty Hall, home of Brown; the 1835 Greek Revival Orlando Brown House, home of one of Brown's sons; and the surrounding grounds and gardens.

The site offers period rooms; 75-minute tours of both residences; a living history outreach presentation with hands-on activities; and an educational program for students, which includes a 17-minute film. Advance notice is required for groups of 10 or more. The site is only partially wheelchair accessible. The website offers descriptions and images of select artifacts.

Fort Trumbull State Park [CT]

Description

Visitors to the site can receive an interactive history lesson at the visitor's center, or just walk the Fort and ramparts for a view of the Thames River. The fort contains informative markers and displays, a touchable cannon and artillery crew display, and gun emplacements. The fort interior features 19th-century restored living quarters, a mock laboratory, and a 1950s era office furnished to resemble a research and development lab at the facility. The visitor center contains state-of-the-art multimedia theaters, computer touch-screen interactive exhibits, 3-D models, and extensive graphics and text panels. The center depicts over 225 years of military history and technological advances from the Revolutionary War to the Cold War. Some of the main display themes include the September 6, 1781 attack by the British under the command of Benedict Arnold, the U-boat menace during World War II, and the anti-submarine efforts during the Cold War.

A second website for the site, maintained by the Friends of Fort Trumbull, can be found here.

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

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site [SC]

Description

The Hampton Plantation State Historic Site presents the stories of slavery within the plantation system, the plantation life of African Americans post-emancipation, Lowcountry (coastal South Carolina) rice production, and colonial architecture. The 274-acre site includes an 18th-century Georgian plantation home and kitchen building.

The site offers guided tours, educational programs, interpretive trails, and a waterway canoe tour. The website offers transcriptions of letters written by plantation inhabitants.

Essex Ship Building Museum [MA]

Description

The Essex Ship Building Museum chronicles the history of the most successful industry in the town of Essex, the shipbuilding industry, and the history of Essex more generally.

The museum offers educational programs, guided tours, professional development for teachers, occasional presentations, and evening classes on a variety of topics. The website offers visitor information, information regarding all programs offered by the museum, and a calendar of events.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park [NJ]

Description

The site of Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in Ocean County was regarded as one of the most crucial "change of course" points for coastal vessels. Vessels bound to and from New York along the New Jersey coastline depended on Barnegat Lighthouse to avoid the shoals extending from the shoreline. The swift currents, shifting sandbars, and the offshore shoals challenged the skills of even the most experienced sailor. The park is included as a maritime site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail.

The site offers exhibits and tours.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial [NC]

Description

Thomas Wolfe left an indelible mark on American letters. His mother's boardinghouse in Asheville—now the Thomas Wolfe Memorial—has become one of literature's most famous landmarks. Named "Old Kentucky Home" by a previous owner, the rambling Victorian structure was immortalized by Wolfe as "Dixieland" in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Restored to look as it did in the early 20th century when young Tom Wolfe and Mrs. Wolfe's boarders shared a roof, the house evokes a time and a place that inspired one of the South's greatest writers.

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

Moore County Historical Association [NC]

Description

The Moore County Historical Association is dedicated to promoting awareness of Moore County history. The association maintains five historic properties, all of which are open to visitors during the summer or by special appointment.

The association offers exhibits and self-guided tours in the five historic properties, as well as frequent tours of historic landmarks. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of each of the historic structures.

New Hope Historical Society and Parry Mansion [PA]

Description

The New Hope Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of New Hope, PA, which has served as a home to the Lenni-Lenape, Dutch, English, and Quakers, among others. The society operates the Parry Mansion, a 1784 residence which currently displays 124 years of the decorative arts. Each room speaks to a different period of the Parry family's inhabitance.

The society offers guided tours of the mansion and 1-mile guided tours of the neighborhood. Neighborhood tours discuss citizens of note, the Revolutionary War, and the fishing industry.