Anderson House [DC]

Description

The 1905 Anderson House is a Beaux Arts mansion, which served as the residence of Larz Anderson III (1866-1937), diplomat and Ambassador to Japan, and his wife Isabel (1876-1948), author of travel memoirs, poetry, and family histories. The interior favors English and Italian elements. The collection strength is artifacts of the Revolutionary War. The house is the headquarters of the Society of Cincinnati, a society interested in Revolutionary War history.

The house offers period rooms, exhibits, guided tours, and monthly artifact presentations and talks. Reservations are required for groups of ten or more. Tours are offered in several languages, and can be tailored to specific interests given advance notice.

Robert Frost Farm State Historic Site [NH]

Description

The Robert Frost Farm was home to Robert Frost and his family from 1900–1911. Frost, one of the nation's most acclaimed poets whose writings are said to be the epitome of New England, attributed many of his poems to memories from the Derry years. The simple two-story white clapboard farmhouse is typical of New England in the 1880s.

A second, individual website for the site can be found here.

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

Jack London State Historic Park [CA]

Description

Jack London State Historic Park is a memorial to writer and adventurer Jack London, who made his home at the site from 1905 until his death in 1916. The park was once part of the famous writer's Beauty Ranch. The park contains the cottage residence where he wrote books, short stories, articles, and letters while he oversaw various agricultural enterprises. After London's death, his wife, Charmian, continued to live in the cottage until her death in 1955. It was her wish that the ranch be preserved in memory of Jack London and his work. There is a museum in "The House of Happy Walls," which Mrs. London built in a redwood grove.

The park offers tours and exhibits.

Vachel Lindsay Home

Description

This antebellum site is the birthplace and longtime home of poet (Nicholas) Vachel Lindsay. Lindsay was internationally known in the early 20th century for his poetry, the artwork he created to illustrate the poetry, and his animated performances of his work.

The site offers tours.

Joseph Priestley House [PA]

Description

When Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) is remembered today, it is usually for his 1774 discovery, in England, of oxygen. Few know he was a noted theologian, political progressive, and prolific author whose scientific contributions include the development of the carbonation process, the identification of carbon monoxide, and early experiments in electricity. He counted Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Watt among his friends. Yet Priestley was also a controversial figure whose views were so odious to some of his countrymen that his house, Fair Hill in Birmingham, was burned in a riot, and he and his family left England. Priestley spent the last 10 years of his life in Northumberland, PA, where he continued his work in science, religion, and education. But even in this democratic republic his liberal ideas were frequently received with intolerance, and the peace that he so ardently desired was often elusive. Today, the Joseph Priestley House is an historic site that preserves and interprets the contributions and significance to American history of Joseph Priestley, noted English theologian, educator, natural philosopher, and political theorist.

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

Pearl S. Buck Museum [WV]

Description

The Pearl S. Buck Museum is located in the mountains of West Virginia, and commemorates the birthplace of renowned author Pearl S. Buck, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1932. The museum is located in the home where Buck was born, and today serves as a museum of the life and times of Pearl S. Buck.

The museum offers self-guided tours of the home. The website offers a brief history of the site as well as basic visitor information.

Gore Place [MA]

Description

Gore Place consists of the 1806 Federal-style home, estate, and farm of Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Senator Christopher Gore (1758-1827). Significant guests of the Gores included Secretary of State Daniel Webster and President James Monroe. The Gores' African American butler Robert Roberts wrote and published the The House Servant's Directory, a type of domestic servant's advice compilation, in 1827.

The site offers period rooms, guided mansion tours, self-guided tours of the grounds, sheep, goats, poultry, a 40-minute living history outreach presentation by "Robert Roberts," a 2-hour elementary school education program, student group tours of the mansion, 11 Girl Scout programs, activity backpacks for use on site, full moon tours, and Jane Austen tours. Full moon tours are not intended for children under six years of age. The Jane Austen tours interpret period rural life through the words of author, Jane Austen. The website offers a free curriculum program, descriptions of the ways in which various programs meet curriculum standards, and a list of suggested reading and viewing materials.

Historical Jonesboro/Clayton County and Stately Oaks [GA]

Description

Historical Jonesboro/Clayton County seeks to preserve and share the history of Jonesboro and Clayton County, Georgia. To this end, the organization operates an 1839 Greek Revival antebellum residence, Stately Oaks. The grounds include the log kitchen, a well house, a tenant house, a historic schoolhouse, and a country store. Clayton County was home to Margaret Mitchell, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gone with the Wind; and it is believed that Stately Oaks served as an inspiration for her novel's setting.

The organization offers tours of Stately Oaks—either with a costumed interpreter or self-guided with MP3 audio, educational programs, workshops, and presentations. Reservations are required for group and student tours.

Limberlost State Historic Site [IN]

Description

The Limberlost State Historic Site interprets one of the homes of author, photographer, naturalist, and illustrator Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924). Topics covered include Stratton-Porter's life, her writings, and the swamp surrounding Limberlost. The Limberlost swamp stretches over 13,000 acres, and was known circa 1900 for its multitude of dangers—natural and human. The residence itself is an 1895 Queen Anne cabin. Today, the interior holds Victorian and Arts and Crafts period rooms. Stratton-Porter was the author of numerous popular novels and nature books, including Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost.

The site offers period rooms, guided house tours, and hiking trails. Group tours, school tours, outreach programs, and educational materials for rental are all available with advance notice. The website offers a list of state educational standards relevant to the site.

Minnesota Historical Society

Description

The Minnesota Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Minnesota. To this end, the society operates a history center and 26 historical sites located throughout the state. The Minnesota History Center collections include more than 230,000 artifacts, including a collection of Ojibwa pieces; 6,000 works of art; and 53,000 cubic feet of government records, among other items.

The Minnesota History Center offers a 30-minute introductory film, exhibits, interactive field trip programs, library access, and two lunch sites—one indoor and one outdoor. Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance for field trip programs and/or use of the indoor dining area. Lunches can be ordered ahead from the museum restaurant. The center can arrange for sign language interpreters and wheelchair availability. The society also offers outreach presentations given by costumed interpreters and continuing education workshops for teachers.

The website offers blogs on selected artifacts, local historical organizations, and the archives; a forum for historical researchers; video podcasts; historical images; lesson plans on Minnesota and the Holocaust; and a Minnesota history curriculum available for purchase.