Senator George Norris State Historic Site [NE]

Description

George Norris spent over 40 years representing Nebraskans in the United States Congress, but he always returned to his humble house in McCook, which served as his home base from 1902 to 1944. At the Norris House, visitors will discover the fascinating story of the father of the Rural Electrification Act, the Tennessee Valley Authority Act, and Nebraska's one-house legislature. Exhibits located in the basement of the house trace the senator's life and career.

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

Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico

Description

Housed in a 1912 cattle rancher's home, the Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico offers a regional history museum. Many of the original furnishings still fill the rooms, and the prairie style house contains a fully recreated turn-of-the-century kitchen. Artifacts of note include an Edison Amberola phonograph and a buggy foot warmer, and exhibits include information on famous and infamous regional figures. The archives, located next door to the museum, contain over 11,000 photographs, thousands of books and manuscripts, obituaries, newspaper articles dating back to the early 1900's, and other Pecos Valley memorabilia.

The society offers museum exhibits, archival access, and a self-guided historic district tour.

Manlius Historical Society [NY]

Description

The Manlius Historical Society aims to preserve and heighten awareness of the history of the town of Manlius, New York. To this end, the society maintains a museum. The Manlius Historical Museum has several permanent displays, including a replica schoolroom and general store. Attached to the museum is an authentic working Blacksmith Shop and an authentic (non-working) Outhouse. The Cheney House Research Center and Library contains archives and genealogy files.

The society offers archival access and museum exhibits.

Pío Pico State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Pío de Jesus Pico is one of California's most remarkable historical figures. He witnessed, shaped, and influenced nearly a century of California history in the 1800s. Pío Pico was the governor of California in 1832 and again in 1846 before and during the Mexican-American War. His adobe home at "El Ranchito" has been completely restored to how it appeared in the 1880s, letting visitors experience and celebrate his life and times. The five-acre park encompasses historic gardens and the beautiful restored adobe home of Pío Pico. A bell marks the original El Camino Real, which passed directly in front of the park during Pío Pico's time. The park was once part of Pío Pico’s 9,000 acre ranch, Rancho Paso de Bartolo. Visitors can enjoy the park with picnics, bird watching, and exploring the parks features, including a 15-room adobe with interpretive displays, an horno (bread oven), a dovecote, and a children's archaeological sand box.

The park offers exhibits; tours; educational programs; and recreational and educational events, including living history events.

Lawndale Historical Society [NC]

Description

The Lawndale Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Lawndale, North Carolina. To this end, the society operates a museum on the grounds of the old Piedmont School.

The museum offers exhibits and musical programs. The website offers galleries of historic photographs, as well as oral history audio clips and written summaries.

Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest [VA]

Description

Poplar Forest is one of two structures which Thomas Jefferson personally designed to serve as his own residence. Unlike Monticello, this location was designed as a retreat for his later years, beginning in 1809 when he was 66 years of age; and, as such, was created exclusively to his personal tastes. The structure is based on the Roman villa with Renaissance Palladian, 18th-century French, and contemporary British and Virginian architectural influences. The floor-to-ceiling windows, alcove beds, skylight, and indoor privy were all based on French styles which Jefferson had witnessed abroad.

The site offers exhibits; a 15-minute video on the restoration and archaeological work being conducted; guided house tours; self-guided grounds tours; an annual opportunity for students to interview Thomas Jefferson and other historical figures; and a summer archaeology, history, and restoration camp. Group tours are available by appointment. The website offers lesson plans and suggested reading for students and for teachers.

Pasadena Heritage [CA]

Description

Pasadena Heritage seeks to preserve the history of Pasadena, California. The offices are located in the Madison House, an 1893 Victorian home.

The organization offers oral history transcriptions for viewing on site and for purchase, as well as special events, including educational programs, tours, lectures, and workshops.

Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site [TN]

Description

At the Tipton-Haynes historic site, 11 buildings tell a story of Tennessee's history from early settlement to the Civil War era. Contained within the large white house is the log cabin of Colonel John Tipton. In the 1850s, Haynes changed the front porch to what is seen today and constructed his law office next to the house. The outbuildings include a smokehouse, pigsty, loom house, still house, springhouse, and the large log barn and corncrib from the Tipton period. In addition, there is the home of George Haynes, a slave with the Haynes family. Colonel John Tipton is buried in the site's cemetery.

The site offers exhibits, educational programs, research library access, and occasional recreational and historical events.

Historical Society of Old Newbury [MA]

Description

The Historical Society of Old Newbury seeks to preserve and share the history of Newbury, Massachusetts, including Newburyport, West Newbury, Byfield, and Plum Island. To this end, the society operates the Cushing House Museum & Garden, which houses the society's collections. Example artifacts include four Chinese coastal Hong paintings; a 17th–century Dutch cradle; local furnishings; silver; needlework; fans; hatboxes; 19th–century toys; clocks; and a painting by Cecilia Beaux (1855–1942), an American society portrait artist.

The society offers exhibits, museum tours, a research library and research assistance.