Housing the Lowest Income Americans: The Past, Present, and Future of Public Housing

Description

Professor Lawrence J. Vale shows provocative images from early advertisements to demonstrate some of society's long-held attitudes toward public housing and those who live in public housing. He analyzes government policies as they evolved to provide housing to 'reward people who are most deserving' of assistance, or to provide housing assistance as a 'coping mechanism.'

Historical Museum of Southern Florida [FL]

Description

The Historical Museum of Southern Florida presents the history of South Florida and the Caribbean. The museum's permanent exhibit addresses Native American life, the international rivalry for dominance in the region, southward expansion and Seminole displacement, the development of technology and the region's economy, and immigration and tourism to South Florida. Consistent themes include ethnic diversity, immigration, and use of the natural environment.

The museum offers exhibits, summer camps, curriculum-based programs for students, historical site excursions for students, outreach programs for students, evening history programs, family programs, social and ecological history tours for adults, and research library and archive access. The website offers pre-visit materials.

Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park [NV]

Description

The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is one of Carson Valley's first and largest ranches. The ranch was home to German immigrant Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg, who founded the site in 1857. A local businessman, rancher, and politician, Dangberg started his ranch with just a log cabin. At the time of his death in 1904, he had created a 20,000 acre ranching empire that his sons expanded to 48,000 acres. More than five acres of the ranch are now owned by Douglas County and managed by Nevada State Parks. The county and state are restoring the original buildings, including a main house, a stone cellar, a laundry building, a carriage house, a garage, and a bunkhouse. These buildings and original artifacts are on display.

The site offers tours.

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site [PA]

Description

The Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site consists of Gloria Dei, also known as the Old Swedes' Church. The structure is the oldest church in Pennsylvania, having been completed in 1700. Nils Collins, pastor between 1784 and 1831, was a friend of Benjamin Franklin's. The cemetery includes the interment site of Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), known as the father of American ornithology.

The site offers exhibits and self-guided tours of the interior and cemetery. The website offers a cemetery guide. The church retains an active religious community. For this reason, the site may be closed to the public for religious services and ceremonies.

City Lore [NY]

Description

City Lore seeks to preserve and share New York City's history. To this end, they have created the C.A.R.T.S. (Cultural Arts Resources for Teachers and Students) project; and maintain a resource library with more than 1,500 books, 120,000 slides, and audio and visual materials related to oral histories and traditional arts.

City Lore offers educator workshops; residencies, 8- to 20-week programs of fine arts, folk arts, historical, cultural, or folklore education; and a resource center. Appointments are required when visiting the resource center.

George M. Murrell Home [OK]

Description

When the Cherokees were forced to leave their homes in the East during the "Trail of Tears" in 1838—39, Murrell chose to move with his Cherokee wife's family to the new Nation in the West. In Park Hill, Indian Territory, he established a plantation and built a large frame home similar to those he remembered in Virginia. He called the Greek Revival-style house "Hunter's Home" because of his fondness for the fox hunt.

The home offers tours, workshops, living history demonstrations, and occasional educational and recreational events.

Fred Drummond Home [OK]

Description

The Drummond family built one of the most successful trading and ranching operations in Oklahoma. Twenty-year-old Frederick Drummond arrived in the United States from his native Scotland in 1884. In 1890, Drummond married Adeline Gentner, a German-American girl from Coffeyville, Kansas. By 1895 the couple had saved enough money for Fred to buy a partnership in the company he worked for. The enterprise prospered and, in 1904, Drummond bought out a trader in Hominy, forming the Hominy Trading Company. Through this economic base, Drummond expanded his operations to include ranching, banking, and real estate. As a reflection of financial success, Fred and Addie built a substantial home in Hominy. The three-story house, completed in 1905, is Victorian in style and features a central square tower, second floor balcony, and false dormers.

The home offers tours.

Fort Leaton State Historic Site [TX]

Description

Fort Leaton State Historic Site consists of 23.4 acres, five of which are the site of a pioneer trading post. In 1848, Ben Leaton built a fortified adobe trading post known as Fort Leaton. He dominated border trade with the Apache and Comanche Indians before he died in 1851.

The park is day-use only and offers picnicking areas, guided tours, plus exhibits on the history from 15th century, natural history, and archaeological history of the area. The site serves for historical study activities.

Fort Gibson [OK]

Description

Built in 1824, Fort Gibson served as a staging area for several military expeditions which explored the west and sought peace between the tribes of the region. It was occupied through most of the Indian Removal period then abandoned in 1857. The post was reactivated during the Civil War. The army stayed through the Reconstruction and Indian Wars periods, combating the problem of outlaws and squatters. In 1890, the army abandoned Fort Gibson for the last time. Visitors to the site can see a reconstruction of the early log fort as well as original buildings from the 1840s through 1870s. Exhibits detailing the history of the fort are located in the Commissary Visitors Center. The site also hosts a number of special living history events and programs throughout the year.

The fort offers exhibits, occasional living history events, and other recreational and educational programs.