Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association [RI]

Description

The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association is Rhode Island's oldest ethnic historic group, and chronicles the history of Jews in Rhode Island. The society works with local educational institutions in order to aid in scholarship and education regarding Jews in Rhode Island.

The society offers teaching aids, historical resources, and artifacts that can be used by teachers in the classroom. The society also offers research resources. The website offers basic information regarding the society and its resources and programs.

Osage County Historical Society, Hawley Genealogical Research Center, and Museum [KS]

Description

The Osage County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Osage County, Kansas. To this end, the society operates a museum of local history. Topics addressed include business, farming, railways, coal mining, and family life. The area's ethnic heritage includes African Americans and English, Welsh, Swedish, French, Irish, German, and Italian immigrants.

The museum offers exhibits. The research center offers access to official Orange County records, as well as research assistance. Payment is required for research assistance.

Pella Historical Society [IA]

Description

Pella Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the unique historical heritage of Pella, IA. Pella is known for its rich Dutch heritage. The society's main function is to operate the Pella Historical Village, a collection of historic house museums and the Vermeer historic Dutch windmill.

The society offers interpretive events, guided tours, special events, and hands-on workshops. The website offers visitor information, an events calendar, educational resources including lesson plans, and a history of the town.

National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame [TX]

Description

The National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame highlights the men of color who helped expand our country through exhibits containing art, photography, artifacts, journals, and other historic items.

The museum offers free children's cultural heritage workshops twice a week which include tours of the museum and guest speakers. Interactive student activities are also offered.

Acadian Village [LA]

Description

The Acadian Village presents daily life and society within 19th-century Acadian Southern Louisiana. Seven of the 11 site structures are restored historic residences containing local period furnishings. Exhibit topics include Cajun music; spinning; weaving; medicine; and Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc (1894-1971), who strove to preserve Cajun culture. Replica period settings include a blacksmith shop, chapel, home, and schoolhouse; while the LeBlanc exhibit is located within the senator's birth home.

The village offers exhibits, period rooms, and self-guided tours. Reservations are appreciated for group visits. Picnics are encouraged. Tour brochures are available in English and French. The village is open January through October.

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum [IL]

Description

Jane Addams's Hull House was the most famous example of settlement houses popular during the American industrial revolution. The Hull House functioned as a center for the Chicago’s disadvantaged, offering community programs and other forms of community aid in poor, ethnic areas of Chicago.

The site offers school tours as well as lesson plans for teachers and pre-and post-visit activities.

Bergen County Historical Society and Museum [NJ]

Description

The Bergen County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Bergen County, New Jersey. To this end, the society operates a museum within the Campbell-Christie House. The museum collection is particularly strong in local Dutch artifacts and archival materials. Highlights include a dugout canoe, one of two known 1767 Bergen Settles, the only known example of Bergen Dutch Delftware, and Native American artifacts. A research library is available at Felican College.

The society offers exhibits, monthly lectures, and research library access. The library is only partially wheelchair accessible.

West Volusia Historical Society, Museums, and Memorial Garden [FL]

Description

The West Volusia Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of West Volusia County, Florida. To this end, the society operates the 1886 DeLand House Museum, Robert M. Conrad Research and Educational Center, the 1922 DeLand Memorial Hospital, and the Lue Gim Gong Memorial Gardens. The hospital was used for medical purposes until 1948. A separate building behind the main structure served the local African American population. The hospital addresses medical history and African American life, as well as housing collections of elephant figurines, historic toys, and military artifacts. The grounds include two gardens, one of which is devoted to offering a sensory experience for visually and physically impaired visitors. The Lue Gim Gong Memorial Gardens honor Lue Gim Gong (1860-1925), creator of a number of grapefruit and orange varieties.

The DeLand House Museum offers period rooms. The Conrad Center offers exhibits, oral histories, and a research library. The DeLand Memorial Hospital offers period rooms, exhibits, and gardens. The society also offers outreach speakers, a memorial to Lue Gim Gong, and access to his grave site.

Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site [ND]

Description

The Gingras Trading Post State Historic Site preserves the 1840s home and trading post of Métis legislator and businessman Antoine Blanc Gingras. Métis, meaning "mixed blood" or "mixed race," is a term used by people of combined Indian and European ancestry to describe themselves. Gingras's hand-hewn oak log store and home are among the few tangible remains of the fur trade in the Red River Valley. Both buildings on Gingras State Historic Site have been restored to their original appearance. Interpretive panels and exhibits about Gingras, Métis heritage, and the fur trade are located in the restored house.

The site offers exhibits.