Samuel H. Cupples House [MO]

Description

The Samuel Cupples House is located on the campus of Saint Louis University. The house was purchased in the mid 1900s by Saint Louis University in order to serve as an administrative center for the university. Now, the house serves as a historic house museum, and offers tours to the public throughout the year.

The site offers historic information about the university, the home, and the Cupples family. In addition, the site offers an events calendar, information on current exhibits, a museum store, and an virtual tour.

Save Our Seminary [MD]

Description

Save Our Seminary at Forest Glen is a nonprofit organization founded to "combat the neglect of the unique, beautiful, and historic buildings and landscape of the National Park Seminary in Silver Spring, Maryland." To this end, the organization has worked tirelessly to restore many of the buildings in the seminary, and runs tours of the seminary for visitors from March through November. The seminary complex dates to circa 1887.

The organization offers tours. The website offers visitor information, an online store, a history of the seminary, and information on how to get involved.

National Council for the Social Studies [MD]

Description

"The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to provide leadership, service, and support for all social studies educators." The council is currently the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education; and works to establish a successful baseline curriculum for social studies education, to promote effective use of technology in the classroom, and to aid the passage of effective legislation favoring social studies curriculum. The National Council for the Social Studies does this by working with educators and legislators across the country.

The council offers summer educator workshops. The website offers information about the council and its programs, professional information for educators in the social sciences, resources for potential advocates, and links and information regarding external resources, including periodicals and similar organizations.

Carlyle House Historic Park [VA]

Description

"The historic Carlyle House," according to its website, "was completed in 1753 by Scottish merchant John Carlyle for his bride, Sarah Fairfax of Belvoir, member of one of the most prestigious families in colonial Virginia. Their home quickly became a center of social and political life in Alexandria and gained a foothold in history when British General Braddock made the mansion his headquarters in 1755." Today, the house has been restored to its pre-Revolutionary War state, and offers visitors a glimpse into the life of the colonial upper classes.

Events include guided tours and programs for school groups (grades K-8) and occasional recreational and educational events. The website offers historical information, visitor information, an events calendar, and a detailed history of the house.

Plainsboro Historical Society [NJ]

Description

"The Plainsboro Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Plainsboro Township. The society operates the Plainsboro Museum, which is located in the historic Wicoff House, maintains the Bethel Cemetery, and puts on a variety of educational programs. The museum focuses local history, ranging from high school and youth sports to local businesses.

The site offers detailed descriptions and photographs of all 18 exhibits currently on display, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Discovery Museum [CA]

Description

"The Discovery Museum of Sacramento is a family-focused educational institution dedicated to enriching the lives of local residents and visitors to the Sacramento Region by encouraging the exploration of history, science, and space." The museum is split into two entities, the Challenger Learning Center, which is an interactive space mission simulator which consists of a realistic Mission Control Center and spacecraft, and the Science and Space Center, which is a traditional museum focusing on scientific discovery. The Challenger Learning Center is primarily a children's educational center, and is only open to public groups by appointment. The Science and Space Center features a variety of exhibits, including live animals and a planetarium.

The site offers an events calendar, visitor information for both locations, an online gift shop, and information on all programs offered by the Challenger Space Center.

Connecticut Historical Society [CT]

Description

Established in in 1825, the Connecticut Historical Society is one of the oldest historical societies in the nation and today runs a museum, library, and education center. The museum hosts an impressive collection of Connecticut historical artifacts, including 242,000 photographs and 38,000 objects. The library is similarly extensive, and also has one of the finest genealogical collections in the nation. The education center holds a variety of events, including museum tours and programs, outreach programs, online resources, and professional development for educators.

The site offers library access, information on all educational programs offered by the society, visitor information, an events calendar, exhibits information, eight online exhibits, and resources for genealogical researchers.

Jubilee College State Historic Site [IL]

Description

Note: As of January 2011, site is closed due to short staffing. Check site for status.
The Jubilee College State Historic Site preserves the remnants of Jubilee College, which was founded in 1839 by Philander Chase, the first Episcopal Bishop of Illinois. The school included a theological seminary, a college, a classical preparatory school for boys, a seminary for girls, and some small farming operations. Now, visitors can tour the school, which has been partially restored to its 19th century state. In particular, visitors are offered a guided tour of the recreated chapel/schoolroom/dormitory wing and the recreated library and schoolmaster's office.

The site is part of the greater Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) website, and so only offers minimal visitor information regarding Jubilee College, but does offer links to the greater resources of the IHPA and other historic sites in Illinois, including Abraham Lincoln's presidential library.

Enfield Historical Society Inc [CT]

Description

The Enfield Historical Society is dedicated towards discovering, preserving, and showcasing the history of Enfield, Connecticut. Enfield is notable for the Thompsonville Carpet industry, the Hazardville gunpowder industry, and the Enfield Shaker Community. The society owns and operates three museums, all of which are open to the public free of charge. The Old Town Hall Museum was built as a church in 1774, and today functions both as a museum and as the headquarters of the society. The Martha A. Parsons House Museum houses over two centuries of Parsons family possessions, and gives visitors a window into the past of Enfield. Finally, the Wallop School Museum was built in 1800 and remained in service as a school house until 1949. Now, visitors can explore education throughout the history of Enfield. In addition to the museums, the society offers educational and research services to the public.

The site offers general information about the museums, genealogical research information, a calendar of events, and information about how to join the society.

West Virginia State Museum / Cultural Center [WV]

Description

The West Virginia State Museum and Cultural Center opened in 1976 in order to showcase West Virginia's artistic, cultural, and historic heritage. While the lower level of the museum is presently closed for renovation, the upper floors are still open to the public, and visitors can view the art and history exhibits in the Art Gallery, the Lobby Gallery, and the Balcony Gallery. In addition, the State Archives Library and the offices of the Commission on the Arts and the State Historic Preservation Office are also housed in the museum.

The site offers visitor information, information on all current exhibits and galleries up in the museum, as well as several online exhibits, information on all grants that the museum is working on, an events calendar, a store, and information about West Virginia's Division of Culture and History.