H. H. Bennett Studio and History Center [WI]

Description

The H.H. Bennett Studio and History Center houses many of the original photographs, glass plate negatives, photography inventions, cameras, and pieces of equipment which belonged to Henry Hamilton Bennett (1843–1908), one of the most widely regarded landscape photographers of the 19th century and creator of the "instantaneous shutter." Bennett is also known for his photographs of the Ho-Chunk Native American population. The studio, founded in 1875, is thought to be the oldest operating photography studio in the United States.

The center offers exhibits and standards-based guided tours for school groups.

Occoneechee State Park [VA]

Description

Occoneechee State Park contains 18.1 miles of trails which allow guests to experience the history of the Occoneechee Indians and 19th–century plantation life. The Occoneechee lived on this land between 1250 to 1676, and the visitor center displays a number of related artifacts. The landscaping of a 19–century plantation mansion (itself destroyed in a fire) can also be seen here.

The park offers a one-mile self-guided interpretive trail and exhibits.

Smithfield Community Association and Gerrit Smith Estate [NY]

Description

The Smithfield Community Association manages the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, lifelong residence of abolitionist and social reformer Gerrit Smith (1797–1874), and preserves this history of Petersboro, New York, a major Underground Railroad destination and site of the inaugural meeting of the NYS Anti-Slavery Society in 1835.

The association's offerings vary. Please check Upcoming Events. Examples include Civil War living history, lectures, and Gerrit Smith Estate building tours.

James Madison's Montpelier [VA]

Description

The Montpelier Foundation's primary mission is to present the lasting legacy of James Madison (1751–1836) as Father of the U.S. Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth president of the United States. The Montpelier estate, home of Madison for the majority of his life, features the Madison mansion, historic buildings, gardens, forests, a freedman's cabin and farm, and the site of a Civil War encampment.

The Montpelier Foundation offers exhibits, an archaeological lab and sites, hands-on activities, an introductory film, guided tours of the Madison mansion, self-guided landscape tours, a variety of other thematic guided tours, limited transportation grants, and educational programming with suggested grade levels (including in-class outreach presentations).

West Sacramento Historical Society [CA]

Description

The West Sacramento Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of West Sacramento and East Yolo County, California. The society operates a museum and several interpretive displays located throughout the area. Collection highlights include three fire engines—a 1926 Federal with Dodge Brothers engine, a 1937 Chevy wooden tanker, and a 1954 or '55 International engine.

The museum offers exhibits.

Old Economy Village [PA]

Description

Old Economy Village interprets the history of the Harmony Society, a highly successful 19th-century religious communal society, and preserves and interprets the unique material culture of the Society during its period of residence in Beaver County, PA, for citizens of and visitors to the Commonwealth.

The site offers tours, exhibits, educational programs, workshops, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Constitution Hall State Historic Site

Description

James Henry Lane had a significant impact on Kansas history and is one of Constitution Hall's more colorful characters. He was part of a large antislavery delegation that marched into Lecompton to protest the convening of the proslavery Lecompton Constitutional Convention in the fall of 1857. The nation's eyes were fixed on this site, waiting to see what kind of constitution would be drafted and whether Kansas would join the Union as a free or slave state. Visitors to the site can learn more about Jim Lane, the proslavery and free-state forces in the area, and other stories of territorial Kansas at Constitution Hall.

This site offers exhibits, tours, and educational and recreational programs.

Milwaukee County Historical Society, Center, and Historic Sites [WI]

Description

The Society operates the Historical Center, in the 1913 Second Ward Savings Bank building, as well as several historical sites, including Trimborn Farm, Jeremiah Curtin House, Lowell Damon House, and Kilbourntown House. Trimborn farm lets visitors take a giant step back into pioneer times. They can delve into Victorian-era industry, reminisce about 19th-century farm life, and witness Wisconsin culture come to life as embodied by the immigrant entrepreneur Werner Trimborn, his family, and his employees. With help from a stone mason, Irish immigrant David Curtin built the first-of-its-kind stone Jeremiah Curtin House in the Old Town of Greenfield in 1846. Started in 1844 by Oliver Damon and completed in 1847 by his son Lowell, the Lowell Damon House is Wauwatosa's oldest residence and stands as a classic example of a colonial home. Built in 1844 by Benjamin Church, Kilbourntown House was originally located in the area of Milwaukee known as Kilbourntown. This building was moved to Estabrook Park in 1938 and serves as a fine example of Greek Revival architecture.

The society offers research library access, lectures, and occasional recreational and educational events; the Center offers exhibits and tours; the Farm offers tours and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events); the Jeremiah Curtin House offers tours; the Lowell Damon House offers tours; Kilbourntown House offers tours.

Mission Houses Museum [HI]

Description

Built between 1821 and 1841, the three mission houses that make up the Museum served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries to travel to the Hawaiian Islands. The Frame House (Ka Hale La'āu), was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawai'i. The Chamberlain House (Ka Hale Kamalani), built of coral blocks in 1831, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies. The third building, also of coral blocks, completed in 1841, today functions as the Printing Office (Ka Hale Pa'i). A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawai'i is demonstrated there on a regular basis. In addition, the Museum grounds are the location of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society (HMCS) library. Among the library's artifacts are the earliest books printed in the Hawaiian language. These books were used by missionaries and scholars alike in church and school.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, workshops, lectures, and other educational and recreational programs.