Historic Cherry Hill [NY]

Description

Historic Cherry Hill is a 1787 residence, occupied by the Van Rensselaer family until 1963. The site presents the changing culture, decorative arts, economic climate, and social classes of the 176 years in which the home was in use. The structure exists in its 1963 state in order to render social and architectural evolution visible to visitors. The Van Rensselaers were originally considered Hudson River manor lords, members of a group of wealthy local Dutch settlers. However, as early as the 1820s, the family began to face economic pressure which would increase with the formation of the millionaire class and the large numbers of immigrants entering the U.S. Collections include more than 20,000 artifacts—from the most mundane household items to rare examples of decorative arts styles—and 30,000 archival documents.

Cherry Hill offers period rooms; tours; interactive educational programs for students; and educational outreach programs for students. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Listening assistance devices are available. The website offers two teaching units for purchase. Both won awards from the American Association for State and Local History.

Tours and on site educational programs are currently unavailable, as the site undergoes restoration. Outreach programming is still available.

Gunston Hall Plantation [VA]

Description

Visit the home of George Mason, the author of the Virginia Bill of Rights (the basis of the Constitution's Bill of Rights). Completed in 1759, Gunston Hall is a fine example of Virginia's colonial architecture in the Georgian style. The mansion's grounds and gardens were surveyed and designed by Mason himself and are available for visiting today.

The site welcomes field trips and offers school tours based on Virginia SOLs and on-site programs for all grades. Outreach programs are also available if a visit is impossible. Teacher resources and curriculum guides are available for purchase in the museum shop. Teacher workshops and lectures are also featured as well as an on-site research library.

Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society [CT]

Description

Built circa 1748, the Noah Webster House is the restored birthplace and childhood home of the lexicographer Noah Webster (1758-1843). Today, the museum building includes the historical house, library, archives, and a modern exhibition gallery.

The house and society offer exhibits, tours, reference library access, educational programs, and recreational and educational events.

This is the Place Heritage Park [UT]

Description

Visitors can journey back in time at Old Deseret Village, a collection of more than 40 historic homes and buildings brought to life by historical interpreters. This is the Place Monument, located in the park, marks the end of the 1,300-mile Mormon trail.

The park offers exhibits, tours, educational programs, demonstrations, and educational and recreational events (including living history events).

Aycock Birthplace [NC]

Description

Charles B. Aycock was born into a simple, rural home in 1859. In 1900 he was elected governor of North Carolina and dedicated his life to improving public education in the state. An 1893 one-room schoolhouse, moved to the site of his birthplace, underscores Aycock's commitment to education. This typical 19th-century family farm includes the main house, separate open-hearth kitchen, corn crib, and smokehouses.

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, demonstrations, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate [KY]

Description

The Ashland estate consists of an 18-room mansion, outbuildings, exhibit space, formal gardens, and walking trails. Henry Clay (1777-1852) temporarily quelled the regionalism which eventually led to attempted secession, helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent, served as Speaker of the House, supported South American governments, and introduced the Amicus Brief. Clay was also a Senator, Secretary of State, lawyer, farmer, and horseman. The structure itself was completed circa 1812, in the Federal style. Rebuilt in 1857 by later family members, the home is still similar to its original appearance but now includes Italianate, Victorian, and Greek Revival elements.

The estate offers one-hour guided mansion tours, period rooms, thematic and general guided tours for students, exhibits, self-guided outbuilding tours, gardens, trails, and a cafe. It is advisable to schedule as far in advance as possible for school visits. The website offers pre-visit handouts, a trivia game, and suggested reading lists for students.

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.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens [OH]

Description

The 70-acre Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is a historic house museum. The Tudor Revival manor was built in 1912; and reflects the architecture of Charles S. Schneider (1874-1932), interior design of Hugo F. Huber, and landscaping of Warren H. Manning (1860-1938). Manning favored naturalistic, as opposed to heavily stylized, garden design. The residence is intended to be visually complementary to its surrounding environment. Guests who visited the estate owners, the Sieberlings, included Shirley Temple (born 1928) and Will Rogers (1879-1935). Other structures on site include the Gate Lodge, site of a conversation among Henrietta Seiberling and two men suffering from alcoholism which would determine the guiding principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as a reproduction of the original greenhouse. The Lodge contains an exhibit on the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The estate offers an exhibit, period rooms, gardens, self-guided manor tours, guided manor tours, other guided tours, educational programs for students, traveling trunks, educational outreach presentations, teacher's workshops, a children's club, Scout programs, and collections access. Appointments are required for collections access. Two weeks advance notice is required for group tours. Boxed lunches can be provided with five days advance notice.

Freetown Village [IN]

Description

Freetown Village presents the history and culture of the approximately 3,000 free African Americans known to have been living in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1870. The content focus is on the Fourth Ward, which is Indianapolis' oldest African American settlement.

The village offers a summer camp for five through 14 year old children, interactive plays, spiritual music performances, and hands-on children's workshops. With the exception of the summer camp, all programs are available as outreach programming in Indiana and nearby states.