Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village [MI]

Description

The Henry Ford Museum presents U.S. ideas and inventions. Exhibit topics include agriculture; clockwork; automobiles; Presidential limousines; furnishings; manufacturing; jewelry; home appliances; R. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House, a 1940s house of the future; aviation; human rights within the United States; silver; pewter; transportation; and 20th-century generations. Collection highlights include Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, one of George Washington's camp beds, a replica of the Wright brothers' Flyer, the limousine in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated, a Gothic steam engine, and the Goldenrod. The Goldenrod broke world land speed records in 1965. The 80-acre Greenfield Village incorporates 83 historic structures. District themes include the railway, an 1880s working farm, Thomas Alva Edison, home life between the 17th and 20th centuries, historic skills, and the Model T Ford.

The museum offers exhibits, three curriculum-based guided activity programs, one curriculum-based dramatic presentation, and cafes. The village offers exhibits, interactive activities, the opportunity to ride historic vehicles, eight curriculum-based dramatic presentations, a self-guided activity for students, restaurants, and a food stall. The site also offers teacher workshops, a teacher fellow program, summer camps, Scout programs, and a youth mentorship program. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for use on site. The village is closed between January and mid-April. The website offers virtual exhibits, teacher's guides, student exploration guides, suggested pre- and post-visit activities, a club for teachers, and audio tour downloads.

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.

Jefferson Landing State Historic Site [MO]

Description

Jefferson Landing State Historic Site is significant as a rare surviving Missouri River landing. The Lohman Building, built in 1839, is a sturdy stone structure that served as a tavern and hotel, and in its heyday also housed one of the city's largest warehouse and mercantile businesses. Today, the main floor contains a visitor center with exhibits on transportation. Across the street from the Lohman Building is the Union Hotel, built in 1855. Today, the hotel houses the Elizabeth Rozier Gallery with its program of rotating exhibits emphasizing Missouri art and culture. A block away, the Missouri State Capitol is more than just the seat of government. Inside the Capitol, the Missouri State Museum houses an impressive collection of exhibits that portray Missouri's history, legends, and cultural achievements. A free guided tour is recommended to fully experience this monument to Missouri, but visitors can explore the four floors of the Capitol by themselves.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and a short film.

National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center [OH]

Description

The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center aims to educate the public about African-American history and culture from African origins to the present through a variety of programs, including museum exhibits, research and publications, visiting scholars, oral and visual history, and adult and children's educational activities.

The museum and center offer exhibits and tours.

Birch Coulee Battlefield [MN]

Description

The Birch Coulee Battlefield preserves the site of the U.S.-Dakota War's Battle of Birch Coulee, fought September second and third, 1862. During the battle, the Dakota effectively besieged U.S. forces for 36 hours before federal reinforcements arrived on site. Interpretation uses the words and sketches of soldiers from both forces.

The battlefield offers a self-guided trail and interpretive signs. The battlefield is open May through October.

Kosciusko County Historical Society and Museums [IN]

Description

The Kosciusko County Historical Society offers a glimpse into Indiana's past with several renovated historical buildings to visit. Visitors can tour the 1870 county jail museum, the 1838 Pound Store museum, and visit the 1897 Tippecanoe River Bridge (now closed to traffic).

The society offers exhibits and a library where students and teachers may look up information about Kosciusko County and its residents' genealogical records.