Kona Historical Society [HI]

Description

The Kona Historical Society's Coffee Living History Farm is typical of a Japanese coffee pioneer's life in Hawaii during the period between 1920 and 1945. Crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts are still grown and farm animals such as donkeys and chickens are part of the farm experience. A coffee mill is still used to grind the coffee grown on the farm and the product is in the historic General Store.

A 75-min village walking tour is offered as well as hands-on activities such as clothes washing, bread-making, coffee grinding, etc. are offered to give students an idea of the labor involved in running a farm. Interpretive performances can be performed in schools and outreach trunk shows are offered for in-class presentations. Teacher resources are sold by the society for a minimal charge.

Empire Mine State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest, and richest gold mines in California. In existence for more than 100 years, the mine produced 5.6 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. The park contains many of the mine's buildings, the owner's home. and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles of abandoned and flooded mine shafts.

The park offers exhibits, tours, living history presentations and events, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Atlanta History Center [GA]

Description

The Atlanta History Center consists of the Atlanta History Museum, Swan House, Tullie Smith Farm, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, historic gardens, Kenan Research Center, and the Margaret Mitchell House. The Atlanta History Museum depicts the story of Atlanta, GA, from early settlement to modern day. Permanent exhibits address historical development, the Civil War, folk arts, and golfer Bobby Jones. The Olympic museum presents the history of the Olympic Games and the sports which take place at the games via a collection of artifacts and photographs. Topics addressed include financing the event, community involvement, global travel to the Olympics, the bid process, and building game venues. The six historic gardens represent groups of people who influenced the development of Atlanta. The Kenan Research Center provides resources for the study of the history and culture of Atlanta and the South. Particular emphasis is given to gardens, military history, decorative arts, and genealogy. The 1928 Swan House portrays life in the 1920s-1930s; while the 1840s Tullie Smith Farm home is representative of area rural life, and is surrounded by outbuildings, such as a blacksmith shop. The Margaret Mitchell House is listed separately within this database.

The center offers guided student tours, self-guided student tours, traveling trunks, interactive outreach programs for students, homeschool days, educator workshops, lectures, toddler programs, summer camps, musical performances, gardens, and living history presentations. The Atlanta History Museum offers exhibits, summer camps, and a cafe. The Centennial Olympic Games Museum offers interactive and traditional exhibits, a sports lab, and multimedia presentations. The Kenan Research Center offers research library access. The Swan House offers an exhibit of decorative arts, audio tours, guided tours, and period rooms. The Tullie Smith Farm offers period rooms, guided tours, and demonstrations. The website offers lesson plans, a virtual tour, and a game based on the P.O.W. experience.

Sotterley Foundation and Plantation [MD]

Description

The Sotterley Plantation, built in 1703, is one of the oldest examples of colonial architecture in Maryland's Tidewater region. The plantation was built by James Bowles, a wealthy British tobacco merchant and later owned by the Plater family, which included Maryland's sixth governor, George Plater III. The plantation was favored by George Washington and may have served as a model for his home, Mount Vernon. The site also includes a slave cabin, gardens, and several 18th-century outbuildings.

School groups may take the standard plantation tour (mansion and gardens), a specialized tour with a more personal feel, or a self-guided tour. Groups may opt to dine on the portico after their tour. The site also offers a variety of educational programs for students of all ages, focusing on Maryland history, agriculture and daily life, and the environment.

Tehachapi Museum [CA]

Description

The Tehachapi Museum presents the history of Tehachapi, CA. Exhibit topics addressed include women of note, children, Native American life, early man, costumes and textiles, geology, the railway, and Ice Age animals.

The museum offers exhibits and self-guided area walking tours.

Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park: Kawaiisu Native American Village [CA]

Description

Nestled atop a ridge in the Tehachapi Mountains, overlooking Sand Canyon to the east and the Tehachapi valley to the west, Tomo-Kahni, or "Winter Village," was the site of a Kawaiisu (Nuooah) Village. The location was likely chosen for its moderate temperature and plentiful resources. The Kawaiisu migrated from the Great Basin and made the Tehachapi their home for two to three thousand years. The Kawaiisu are noted for their finely woven baskets of intricate and colorful design.

The park offers exhibits and tours.

Big Springs Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Big Springs Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Caledonia-Mumford community, New York. To this end, the society operates a museum. Museum collections include Caledonia’s Seth Green Fish Hatchery artifacts, costumes and textiles, military artifacts, religious artifacts, educational artifacts, natural history samples, fine and decorative arts, and Native American artifacts.

The society offers exhibits and on site research assistance.

Museum Village [NY]

Description

Museum Village is a living history site depicting 19th-century life. The site includes a replica 1805 schoolhouse, general store, drug store, 18th-century cabin, weave shop, candle shop, broom shop, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, print shop, pottery shop, costume exhibit building, and natural history building. The natural history building houses a mastodon skeleton.

The village offers interactive and traditional exhibits, costumed interpreters, demonstrations, hands-on activities, a summer day camp, five curriculum-based workshops for students, and picnic tables. Workshops topics include candle making, open hearth cooking, stenciling, printing, and natural dyeing. The site is only partially wheelchair accessible.

Hudson River Museum [NY]

Description

The Hudson River Museum presents the history and art of the Hudson River area, New York. The museum includes a Victorian-era home, Glenview, which is set to period; art exhibition space; a planetarium; and simulations of the environments along the Hudson River. Artists represented in the collection include Samuel Colman (1832-1920).

The museum offers one-hour Glenview tours for students, one-hour exhibit tours for students, one-hour environmental programs for students, one-hour planetarium shows for students, workshops which can be added to any of the aforementioned student programs, professional development programs, and exhibits.

Bellevue Historical Society and Museum [WA]

Description

The Bellevue Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Bellevue, Washington. To this end, the society operates a historical center within the Spanish Eclectic-style circa 1900 Winters House, once home to a wealthy bulb farmer. The center interprets both socio-cultural and natural local history.

The society offers exhibits. The website offers historic photographs.