The Alamo

Description

Michael Ray narrates a basic introduction to the Battle of the Alamo and popular memory of the battle. The presentation looks briefly at how films and fiction have reimagined the story of the Alamo and distorted historical facts.

Phoenix Museum of History [AZ]

Description

The Phoenix Museum of History presents the historical development of Phoenix, AZ and the Salt River Valley. Exhibits topics include the first area general store, local people and places of note, and the Hohokam, among other subjects. Main interpretive focuses include archaeology, prehistory, family life, transportation, business, industry, and architecture.

The museum offers exhibits, curriculum-based program and tour options, a fourth grade outreach program, Scout programs, and research library access. Student programs must be scheduled at least four weeks in advance.

Kentucky Derby Museum [KY]

Description

The Kentucky Derby Museums presents the significance and history of Thoroughbred racing; Churchill Downs; and the Kentucky Derby, a world-renowned annual horse race. The grounds include the graves of several favorite Derby horses—Carry Back, Swaps, Brokers Tip, and Sunny's Halo. Permanent exhibits address Kentucky Derby hats; races from 1918 to present day; the jockey stance; winning horses, owners, and trainers; jockey and stable life; handicapping; and African Americans in Thoroughbred racing.

The museum offers interactive and traditional exhibits, films, trivia tests, guided walking tours of Churchill Downs, barn and backside van tours, behind the scenes tours, legends and lore tours, student tours, curriculum-based programs, curriculum-based outreach programs, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, summer camps, and a cafe. Social studies program topics range from economics to urbanization. The website offers a suggested reading list for students and relevant vocabulary.

The Slaughter Ranch [AZ]

Description

The Slaughter Ranch is a 19th century ranch once owned by "Texas" John Slaughter, a powerful cattle rancher and legendary sheriff in modern day Arizona. The 1893 ranch consists of a five bedroom ranch house, an ice house, a wash house, a granary, a commissary, and a car shed.

Groups may tour the house and grounds, as well as use the designated picnic area.

Humanities Tennessee

Description

Humanities Tennessee promotes state-wide community through educational history, culture, and literature programming. The organization maintains a lending library of documentary films which are relevant to Southern history and culture.

The organization offers videos for loan.

Ybor City Museum State Park [FL]

Description

Don Vicente Martinez Ybor came to the frontier near Tampa and built a city that became the "Cigar Capital of the World." From the opening of the first cigar factory in 1886 until the 1930s, Ybor City flourished. This urban park is dedicated to the preservation of Ybor City's cultural heritage. The museum, housed in the historic Ferlita Bakery, traces the rich cultural history of Ybor City and the cigar-making industry. The museum has self-guided exhibits, with written and audio information, and a video presentation.

The park offers a short film, exhibits, tours, and demonstrations.

Moraga Historical Society and History Center [CA]

Description

The Moraga Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados—now Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette, CA. The rancho, created in 1841, was a 13,316-acre land grant awarded to Joaquin Moraga and Juan Bernal by the Mexican government. To achieve their goal, the society operates a history center with artifacts and archival materials.

The society offers exhibits and archival access.

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park [CA]

Description

This park is part of a nationally recognized historic landmark and can be found adjacent to the extant portion of one of California's 21 Spanish-era mission church sites. The park and its Plaza represent what was once the "town square" of the largest town in central California and a vital crossroad for travel between northern and southern California. In the park visitors can gain an appreciation of California peoples, from Native Americans, through the Spanish and Mexican cultural influences, right up to the American period in the late 19th century. The park site includes several structures built in the 1800s. These include the four main historic structures of the Plaza Hotel, the Zanetta House/Plaza Hall as well as Plaza Stables, and the newly reopened Castro-Breen Adobe with colorful and informative exhibits to help create a learning environment for people of all ages. Many of the interiors are arranged as furnished vignettes. The park also features a blacksmith shop, the historic jail, and an early American settler's cabin.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and occasional living history events.

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park [CA]

Description

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park honors the soldiers who fought in the battle between the U.S. and Californio forces on December 6, 1846 in the midst of the Mexican-American War. Generals Stephen Kearny and Andres Pico both claimed victory. The battle was only one of the military encounters in California in the war, but it proved to be the bloodiest and most controversial as to the outcome. The park has been set aside, not as a monument to war, but as a reminder of the human ideals, actions, and passions that can drive nations to bloodshed.

The park offers exhibits; tours; and occasional recreational and educational events, including living history events.