Kent Historical Society [CT]

Description

The Kent Historical Society works to collect, preserve, and present historical artifacts relating to the history of Kent from pre-colonial times to the present. The society owns three structures, the Swift House, which serves as the society headquarters, the Skiff Mountain School, which is a one room schoolhouse used for school tours, and the Seven Hearths home, which serves as a combination historic house museum and local history museum.

The society offers guided tours, field trip programs for local schools, an annual exhibit in the Seven Hearths House, and occasional special events. The website offers virtual tours of all three society buildings, visitor information, a history of Kent, and society newsletters.

Cape Fear Museum [NC]

Description

The Cape Fear Museum chronicles the history of the Cape Fear Valley, from pre-colonial times until the present day. The museum is host to four nine exhibits, five of which are permanent, and an impressive collection of historic artifacts, documents, and photographs.

The museum offers exhibits and guided tours for visitors. The museum also offers field trip programs which can be catered to a variety of grades, the museum outreach program which gives presentations at local schools, a traveling trunk exhibit, summer camps, and special presentations. The website offers visitor information, a history of the museum, and information concerning all programs offered by the museum.

Georgia Historical Society [GA]

Description

The Georgia Historical Society works to preserve the history of the state of Georgia and educate the public about their shared history. The historical society maintains an extensive library and archives, and also puts on a variety of education and outreach programs.

The society offers lectures focusing on a specific area of Georgia history, teacher workshops, classes for students, and the annual Georgia Days history education program. The website offers online exhibits, an events calendar, visitor information, and library access.

Greater Portland Landmarks [ME]

Description

Greater Portland Landmarks is primarily a historical preservation advocacy organization for Portland, Maine. However, it offers library access to collections which include local 1924 tax assessment photographs, historic maps, and historic research on a variety of Portland structures. The society also operates the 1807 Portland Observatory, the only remaining historic maritime signal tower in the United States. The interpretive focus of the tower is maritime history.

The society offers a library and guided tours, three of which—the Portland Observatory, Eastern Cemetery, and Congress Street—are available specifically tailored to the needs of school groups. The observatory offers guided tours. The observatory website offers a webcam and historic photos.

Tidewater Maritime Living History Association [VA]

Description

The Tidewater Maritime Living History Association seeks to share maritime history and general seamanship knowledge to the public through accurate representation of sailor's lives in the Age of Sail (the 1500s to mid-1800s). The members portray the crew of merchant, naval, and revenue vessels which sailed the East Coast of the United States.

The association provides living history demonstrations, battle reenactments, school programs, parades and memorial dedication activities, and performances of traditional sailor's music. Please see the schedule of events for the association's upcoming appearances.

Worcester Historical Museum [MA]

Description

The Worcester Historical Museum shares the history of Worcestor, Massachusetts via a collection of artifacts including the decorative arts, fine arts, documents, and photographs. Worcester was the setting for the invention of the monkey wrench, barbed wire, space suit, and smiley face. The museum also operates the Salisbury Mansion, a house and hardware store built in 1772. The mansion has been restored to its 1830s appearance.

The museum offers hands-on interpretive programs, music, lectures, workshops, and tours. The mansion offers exhibits and tours.

Ashfield Historical Society Museum [MA]

Description

The Ashfield Historical Society Museum presents the history of Ashfield, Massachusetts via a document and artifact collection. Collection highlights include
music books from the Congregationalist Church Singing School of 1799; peddler's trunks from the mid 19th century; the "thunderbolt log splitter," a splitting wedge, powered by powder and locally invented in the 1930s; over 23,000 glass plate negatives of New England circa 1800; and local pottery. The museum also includes a farming equipment exhibit housed in a barn, an 1800s grocery store display, and a circa-1850 recreated shopkeeper's apartment. The museum is located within an 1830s structure, which originally served as a store.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, and archival tours. Appointments are required for all visitors. The website offers a virtual tour, historic photographs, cemetery records, and a local history timeline.

Tanana-Yukon Historical Society [AK]

Description

The Tanana-Yukon Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the local history of Fairbanks, Alaska. To this end, the society operates the Wickersham House Museum, which has been restored to an early 1900s appearance. Once owned by Judge Wickersham (1857-1939), the structure was built in 1904. Wickersham was highly involved in the development of the Alaska Territory.

The house offers period rooms, while the society offers a lecture series.