Penfield Museum [NY]

Description

Penfield Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the Ironworking industry in upstate New York, and more specifically the Town of Crown Point, New York. The town is now known as the "Birthplace of the Electric Age," since it was the first place where electricity was applied in an industrial use. In addition, the museum also chronicles Crown Point's involvement in the Civil War, both in terms of soldiers and iron provided by the town.

The site offers visitor information, a small 6-photo photograph gallery, brief historical information, and an online gift shop.

Camp 6 Logging Museum [WA]

Description

The Camp 6 Logging Museum, located in Tacoma, Washington, is dedicated to preserving the history of the logging industry in Washington. More specifically, the museum focuses on the period from the 1880s to the 1940s, known as the "steam era" of logging. The museum has been set up like a traditional logging camp, with trains connecting the various working sites - which function as the museum's exhibits. In this way, visitors to the museum are completely immersed in a realistic re-creation of a turn of the century logging camp.

The site offers visitor information and information regarding select events held at the museum.

Texas Fire Museum [TX]

Description

"The Texas Fire Museum was founded in August 1999 to preserve the old Dallas Fire Department Maintenance Facility and to establish a fire apparatus museum that serves as an educational resource for the community. Presently, we have over 60 antique apparatus on display." In addition to the displays and exhibits offered by the museum, the museum also seeks to help individuals and organizations preserve vintage pieces of firefighting equipment.

The site offers a virtual tour of the museum, consisting of photographs of all current exhibits and artifacts currently on display in the museum, visitor information, and a calendar of museum events.

Mill City Museum [MN]

Description

Mills City Museum chronicles the flour milling industry that fueled the growth of Minneapolis, and gave it the nickname that would be recognized around the nation as "Mill City." The museum is built within the ruins of a National Historic Landmark, the Washburn A Mill. "The story of flour milling — and its impact on Minneapolis, the nation and the world — comes to life through the eight-story Flour Tower and other hands-on exhibits."

The site offers visitor information, brief historical information, an event calendar, a museum shop, and information about the tours offered to local schools.

Portage County Historical Society [WI]

Description

The Portage County Historical Society was founded with the intention to preserve, advance, and disseminate the history of Portage County, Wisconsin. To this end, "the Society currently operates four museums, maintains a large archives housed at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point's Archive Center, is developing its own research center, and maintains the Malcolm Rosholt Online Archives on this website to disseminate knowledge of the history of Portage County, Wisconsin." The museums are the Heritage Park, a historic park that gives visitors a glimpse of early frontier life, the Beth Israel Synagogue, which chronicles the history of Portage County's Jewish community, the Rising Star Mill, which gives visitors a tour of turn of the century industry, and Fire Station #2, which was scheduled to open in 2008 and contains a collection of vintage firefighting equipment.

The site offers historical and visitor information regarding all four museums, full archival access, a photo gallery section which has 10 photo galleries currently, three videos, and order information for society publications.

S.P.& S. Railway Historical Society [WA]

Description

"The Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway Historical Society was founded in 1981 to preserve the history of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway and disseminate information to its membership about the railway and its affiliate lines including the Oregon Trunk, the Oregon Electric, United Railways, Astoria & Columbia River, and the Gales Creek & Wilson River." The society also puts out a variety of publications throughout the year, many of which are focused on modelers, who compose a majority of society members.

The site offers an online store, current and past issues of the "The Northwest's Own Railway," the S.P.&S. publication available for purchase, and a brief history of the society.

Fire Museum of York County [PA]

Description

Fire engines, sirens, and old-fashioned alarm systems all await visitors at the Fire Museum of York County. The museum holds collections and artifacts from more than 200 years of firefighting in York County, PA, including horse drawn fire carriages, fire carriages, vintage fire trucks, firefighter's uniforms, and photographs.

The site is only useful for prospective visitors, as it offers no information besides basic visitor information.

San Jose Fire Museum [CA]

Description

The San Jose Fire Museum chronicles the history of the San Jose Fire Department, which was founded in 1854 and is the oldest paid fire departments in the country. The museum houses over 27 pieces of antique firefighting equipment as well as a collection of photographs of early firefighters in the San Jose Fire Department. The museum is open to tours by appointment. Finally, the museum is working to save San Jose Fire Station One and convert it into a new, state of the art, fire museum.

The site offers an events calendar, an online gift shop, material for educators, including lesson plans and interactive online activities, visitor information, and general information about the museum. In order to contact the museum by email, use the "contact us" link on the main webpage.

Roundhouse Railroad Museum [GA]

Description

The Roundhouse Railroad Museum is located in Savannah, Georgia. The structure was originally built as the headquarters and repair shop of Central of Georgia Railway Co. The building eventually fell into disuse after Central of Georgia merged with Southern Railway in the mid 1900s, and was abandoned in the early 1960s. The building was saved from demolition a decade later and now is a National Historic Landmark, a "Save America's Treasure's" Site, and one of the main tourist attractions in historic Savannah. Visitors can view seven historic railroad structures, along with a growing collection of locomotives and rolling stock. In addition, visitors are treated to a variety of exhibits along with a full model train.

The site offers visitor information, very brief historical information, a 12-photo photo gallery along with links to additional photo galleries, an events calendar, and links to previous preservation team monthly photograph reports.

Drake Well Museum [PA]

Description

The Drake Well Museum memorializes the site where, in 1859, Edwin L. Drake drilled the oil well that launched the modern petroleum industry. The Museum tells the story of the beginning of the modern oil industry with orientation videos, exhibits, operating oil field machinery, and historic buildings in a park setting.

The museum offers short films, exhibits, tours, educational programs, and research library access.