St. James's House [VA]

Description

The St. James's House was built around 1768 and is one of the few 18th-century frame houses still standing in Fredericksburg. The house is particularly noted for the collection of antique furniture and decorative arts assembled by Daniel Breslin and William Tolerton, who restored St. James's in the mid-1960s. St. James's represents Messrs Breslin's and Tolerton's interpretation of an 18th-century townhouse in that the furnishings are probably more formal than what would have been in the house during the time of its original owner.

The house is open for tours by appointment.

Historic Forestville [MN]

Description

Historic Forestville presents life in 1899 Forestville, Minnesota. Once a bustling trade center, in 1868 the Southern Minnesota Railroad built tracks elsewhere, bypassing the town and significantly impacting its economy. 31 years later, the town's 50 residents all worked for Thomas Meighen (1855-1936); and were paid in housing and store credit. The historic town is interpreted via living history docents, who depict the Meighens and their employees. Five historic structures remain on site: the store, Meighen home, barn, carriage barn, and granary. All crops on site are heirloom varieties and are open pollinated.

The site offers one-hour tours guided by living history figures, costumed interpreters, demonstrations, heirloom crops, and summer camps. The website offers historic photographs and a suggested reading list.

The Jonathan Corwin House [MA]

Description

The Jonathan Corwin House, also known as The Witch House, served as the residence of Jonathan Corwin (1640-1718), magistrate and judge in the Salem Witch Trials. The court in which he worked issued the death sentence to 19 individuals, none of which would admit to the crime of witchcraft. The home itself dates to before 1675, and is the only residence in Salem with a direct connection to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Topic covered include the trials and the daily life, decorative arts, and architecture of the period.

The house offers period rooms, guided tours, and self-guided tours.

The Village Green Heritage Center [CA]

Description

The Village Green Heritage Center presents the history of the Palm Springs area, California. The center is located in two historic structures. The 1884 McCallum Adobe, built for the area's first permanent settler of European descent, houses vernacular items, textiles, Native American artifacts, artworks, and photographs. The 1893 Little House, built of used railroad ties, is set to period.

The center offers period rooms and exhibits.

The Old Stone House Museum [VT]

Description

The Old Stone House Museum contains 25 rooms of exhibits on 19th-century life in Vermont. The museum consists of six buildings spread over 55 acres, with the largest being Athenian Hall, a stone dormitory. The dormitory was built between 1834 and 1836 by the nation's first African American college graduate and state legislator, Reverend Alexander Twilight. Other structures on-site include Twilight's own home and an English-style barn.

The museum offers self-guided tours, hands-on activities, educational programs, and living history outreach presentations. The website offers several scavenger hunts.

Morrison County Historical Society [MN]

Description

The Morrison County Historical Society is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving historical information regarding Morrison County, Minnesota. The society maintains a local history museum, the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum.

The museum offers exhibits on local Morrison County history. Group tours are available by appointment. The website offers a history of Morrison County, information regarding the resources available for resources, and visitor information.

Old Governor's Mansion [GA]

Description

The Old Governer's Mansion in Georgia is one of the nation's first examples of High Greek Revival architecture in the nation. The mansion was completed in 1839, and served as the mansion of the governor of Georgia until the Civil War. The building was placed on the national register of historic places in 1973, and currently stands as a historic house museum.

The mansion offers visitors guided tours, curator's tours, interpretive events, and occasional special events. The website offers lesson plans and field trip guides, visitor information, a history of the mansion, a virtual tour, and information regarding upcoming events.

Sardi's Restaurant

Description

From the Bowery Boys website:

"The famous faces on the walls of Sardi's Restaurant represent the entertainment elite of the 20th Century, and all of them made this place on West 44th Street their unofficial home. Known for its caricatures and its Broadway opening-night traditions, Sardi's fed the stars of the golden age and became a hotspot for producers, directors and writers -- and, of course, those struggling to get their attention.

When Vincent Sardi opened his first restaurant in 1921, Prohibition had begun, and the midtown Broadway tradition was barely a couple decades old. By the time the current place threw open its doors (thanks to the Shuberts) in 1927, Broadway's stages were red hot, and Sardi found himself at the center of New York City show business world.

We have nuggets from the old days—starring John Barrymore, Tallulah Bankhead, Carol Channing and a cast of thousands—and the scoop on those famous (and often unflattering) framed caricatures. So sidle up to the Little Bar, order yourself a stiff drink and eavesdrop in on this tale of Broadway's longest dinner party."

Big Delta State Historical Park [AK]

Description

The Big Delta State Historical Park contains Rika's Roadhouse, erected in 1909 to house travelers on the historic Valdez-to-Fairbanks Trail. The structure remained in use until 1947. Part of the original kerosene crate floor has been restored, and the bedroom and kitchen are furnished in the styles of the 1920's and 1930's. Also located in the park is a Washington Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System (WAMCATS) station. In 1900, it took a year to send a message from interior Alaska to Washington D.C. and receive an answer. To speed communications, the U.S. Signal Corps, a branch of the Army, built the WAMCATS. McCarty Station, was established in 1907 to maintain the telegraph. The Delta Historical Society maintains a museum housing artifacts, dating from 1900 to 1950, such as blacksmith tools, horse tack, dog harnesses and sleds, household items, and historic photographs.

The park offers guided and self-guided tours, a museum with exhibits, and period rooms.

Fort King George Historic Site [GA]

Description

Fort King George is the oldest English fort remaining on Georgia's coast. The fort was in operation from 1721 until 1736, when it was abandoned. Later, in the 19th century, the location was used as a major export center for lumber. Today, visitors can explore the reconstructed Fort King George, as well as three sawmills and tabby ruins which showcase the history of the location as a lumber exporter. The site is also home to a museum.

The fort offers visitors guided tours, interpretive events, a brief historical film, and a variety of exhibits and special events. The website offers a link to the Georgia Teacher's Resource for Touring Historic Sites, specific lesson plans for touring Fort King George, a brief history of the fort, a 15-photo photograph gallery, an event calendar, and visitor information.