Banning Residence Museum [CA]

Description

The Banning Residence Museum chronicles the history and cultural context General Phineas Banning (1830-1885). General Banning is known as "The Father of the Port of Los Angeles," and is known for being one of the founders of the town of Wilmington as well as for founding the stage and shipping companies which would jump start the busy Port of Los Angeles. Banning was given the title of General after being appointed a Brigadier General of the First Brigade of the militia after he ceded land to the Union Army in order to build a fort in Wilmington.

The house museum is carefully preserved in its 19th century state, and offers visitors a snapshot of the home life of General Phineaus Banning. The website offers a first-person narrative which gives a brief biography of General Banning, an events calendar, and an online store.

Goleta Valley Historical Society and Rancho La Patera [CA]

Description

The Society manages and preserves the five-acre Rancho La Patera, including the 1873 Stow House gardens. Today, the society presents the Ranch as a historic house museum and living history site where visitors can experience rural ranch and California life in the late 1800s.

The museum offers a variety of events, visitor tours, educational programs, and tours tailored for schoolchildren. The website offers a brief history of the ranch, information about upcoming events, an events calendar, visitor information, and a section for teachers which includes a field trip guide.

Kam Wah Chung and Co. Museum [OR]

Description

The Kam Wah Chung Museum preserves the history of the Chinese workforce in Oregon, and contains artifacts and displays that share some of the trials of everyday life of Chinese immigrants in Oregon. The building that houses the museum is the same building used by Chinese businessman Lung On and herbal doctor Ing Hay to administer herbal remedies to Chinese laborers in Western Oregon.

The museum is open from May first through October 30th each year, and offers exhibits and artifacts showcasing the history of Chinese laborers in Oregon. The site offers a brief history of the museum and visitor information.

Anthracite Heritage Museum and Iron Furnaces [PA]

Description

The Museum tells the story of the people who came from Europe to work in the anthracite mining and textiles industries. On a tour of the facility visitors will experience the lives of proud people who endured harsh working conditions yet carved out communities filled with tradition. The diverse collection highlights life in the mines, mills, and factories. Visitors are welcomed into the families' homes and neighborhoods with a moment of reflection in the kitchen, a visit to the pub, or a seat in a local church.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, trolley rides, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Duke Homestead [NC]

Description

Visitors to the Homestead can see the early home, factories, and farm where Washington Duke first grew and processed tobacco. His sons later founded The American Tobacco Company, the world's largest tobacco company. Duke and others helped create a market for Durham-area tobacco products that eventually would turn North Carolina into the heart of an international tobacco empire. Many profits were invested in land and industries but others were used for such humanitarian causes as Duke University, named for the family. The tour includes the Duke family's restored home, an early factory, a curing barn, and a packhouse. The Tobacco Museum exhibits traces tobacco history from Native American times to the present.

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

California Foundry History Institute [CA]

Description

Established in 1997, the California Foundry History Institute (CFHI) is a non-profit educational organization incorporated in the state of California and dedicated to the collection and preservation of historical records pertaining to the history of the foundry industry in California. An important part of this work is the recording, preservation, indexing, and transcription of oral interviews with the men and women who have played a significant role in the development of the foundry industry in California. CFHI also collects and preserves documents, photographs, artifacts and ephemera related to the history of foundries in California. Much of this historical information can be seen at the two CFHI museums in Lodi and McClellan (near Sacramento). The McClellan museum participates in Sacramento County’s annual Museum Day where hundreds of visitors tour Sacramento’s museums.

The museums offer photographs, manuscripts, and examples of foundry technology for visitors to explore, along with guided tours for schoolchildren and regular visitors. The site offers a five minute introductory video, visitor information for the museums, an events calendar, and online access to the institute's archives.

Historic Fourth Ward School Museum [NV]

Description

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum is located in Comstock Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Permanent exhibit topics include area history, mining, the Fourth Ward School building, Virginia City Alumni, Mark Twain, and education in the 1870s.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours, and a junior docent program. The website offers lesson plans.

Nantucket Fire Hose Cart House [MA]

Description

The Fire Hose Cart House is the last remaining 19th century firehouse on Nantucket Island. The structure was built in 1886, and was in service for well over a half century. The structure was acquired by the Nantucket Historical Association in 1960. Today, visitors to the museum can view a variety of vintage firefighting equipment, including some rare equipment relating to the great fire of 1846.

The site offers brief historical and visitor information regarding the Hose Cart House. In addition, the site is part of the greater website of the Nantucket Historical Association, and so offers library access, information about the rest of the association's historical properties, and information regarding upcoming events. In order to contact the historical association via email, use the "contact us" link located on the bottom left of the webpage.

Erie Canal Museum [NY]

Description

The Erie Canal Museum was opened in 1962 in order to chronicle the history and culture of the Erie Canal. Presently, the museum offers exhibits on topics as varied as the history of Syracuse, the history of the canal, jobs on the canal, and taverns on the canal. Visitors to the museum can also take part in a variety of educational programs, including guided tours, online interactive activities, and lectures.

The site offers visitor information, a series of historical features, a listing of current exhibits, a small photo gallery featuring photographs of the Erie Canal Museum building, and an online museum shop.

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park [MA]

Description

The Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park is dedicated to showing the history of canals and their role in transportation between emerging industrial centers in the 19th century. Among the park's attractions are the Blackstone Canal itself, the Millville Lock, the Blackstone Gorge, and a variety of outdoor activities including camping and hiking.

The site offers historical and visitor information regarding the park, including detailed trail and topographical maps of the park and surrounding areas.