Savannah History Museum [GA]

Description

The Savannah History Museum presents the history of Savannah, Georgia, from its founding in 1733 to present day. Exhibit topics include the Revolutionary War Battle of Savannah, women's costume of the 19th and 20th centuries, 19th-century dugout canoes, railway history, weaponry, and military uniforms. Collections consist of more than 10,000 artifacts. The museum is located in the Central of Georgia Railway passenger shed, completed in the 1860s.

The museum offers an 18-minute introductory film, exhibits, self-guided student tours, visit and meal packages, and a cafe.

American Sign Museum [OH]

Description

The American Sign Museum presents the history of the United States sign industry and the impacts thereof. Collections include more than 3,000 artifacts—signs, sign making tools, sketches, models, and other items. Signs range from classic gilt lettered pieces to neon and novelty signs.

The museum offers exhibits and guided tours. Admission can be scheduled outside of the museum's normal hours of operation. Please call ahead to ascertain that the museum will be open on the day you wish to visit.

Amasa Day House [CT]

Description

Colonel Julius Chapman created a symbol of rural gentility by building this Federal-style house in 1816 on the Moodus Green. It was subsequently purchased by Amasa Day, a local banker, in whose family the house remained until 1967. The house is furnished largely with objects owned by members of the Day family, including toys and locally produced ceramics and silver, and still features the original floor and stair stenciling applied to mimic carpeting. Also on display are a selection of photographs from among the thousands taken by pioneering American Pictorialist art photographer Dr. Amasa Day Chaffee between 1890 and 1925.

The house offers exhibits and tours.

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.

Chicago History Museum [IL]

Description

The Chicago History Museum presents Chicago, IL, and select national history. Permanent exhibits include Chicago economy, disasters, community life, innovations, leisure, recreation, and history dioramas. Collections consist of more than 22,000,000 prints, photographs, architectural artifacts, archival documents, published materials, paintings, sculptures, oral histories, films, costumes, decorative arts, and industrial artifacts.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, media presentations, a sensory exhibit for children and families, hands-on activity stations, guided tours, self-guided tours, history tours by boat, step-on guides, 45-minute audio tours, Saturday walking tours, film screenings, teacher workshops, and research library access. Audio tours are available in English and Spanish. The website offers educational games, an artifact spotlight, virtual exhibits, a teacher's guide, unit plans, pre- and post-visit activities, lesson plans, and a curriculum.

Catalina Island Museum [CA]

Description

The Catalina Island Museum presents 7,000 years of the history of Santa Catalina Island. Permanent exhibit topics include the Gabrielinos, resort history, sport fishing, media history, Avalon's casino, the Chinese junk Ning Po, steamships, and ranching. The museum collections consist of more than 150,000 artifacts. Collection highlights include Catalina tiles and Gabrielino artifacts.

The museum offers exhibits, Avalon walking tours, customizable lectures and tours, student tours, and a research center. An appointment and two weeks notice is required for archival or collections access.

Judy Garland Museum [MN]

Description

The Judy Garland Museum preserves the birthplace of actress Judy Garland (1922-1969). Garland lived in the home for her first four and one half years. The site presents her biographical information and historical context. The actress is perhaps best known for her 1939 role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

The museum offers exhibits.

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame [IN]

Description

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame presents the history of basketball within Indiana. Artifacts honor acclaimed high school, college, and professional basketball players and those who have influenced the game. The hall's museum emphasizes male and female high school coaches and players. Exhibit topics include basketball and the media, sports officials, basketball history from 1894 to present day, and the sport histories of individual Indiana high schools.

The museum offers exhibits, films, and research library access. Library access is by appointment only.

Hemingway Home and Museum [FL]

Description

The Hemingway Home and Museum commemorates the life of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author and journalist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961). The 1851 Spanish Colonial home served as Hemingway's personal residence for more than ten years. A Farewell to Arms was completed in Key West for publication in 1929. Many of the home furnishings and hunting trophies on display belonged to Hemingway, and the more than 60 cats are descended from his own pets. Hemingway's work is characterized by simple sentences, understatement, and stoic characters. Examples of his writings include The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell Tolls.

The site offers period rooms, guided tours, and an abundance of cats.