Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site

Description

In 1857 Gerat H. and Sophia Hollenberg established a way station for travelers on the Oregon and California Trails, and from 1860 to 1861 they operated a Pony Express station. The building still stands and, along with the visitor center, tells the stories of the Hollenbergs, pioneer life, and the Pony Express.

The site offers exhibits, tours, and educational and recreational programs.

History Center of Olmsted County and Mayowood Estate [MN]

Description

The History Center of Olmstead County presents the history of Olmstead County, Minnesota. To this end, the center operates as a museum. The museum includes rooms devoted to the decorative arts; a hands-on children's cabin; and exhibits on topics which include IBM, St. Mary's Hospital, the 1883 Rochester tornado, and historical medicine. Artifact collections include textiles, military, decorative arts, Native American, agricultural and mechanical, and medical items. The center also operates the Mayowood Estate historic house museum. Erected in 1911 as the home of Dr. Charles H. Mayo, cofounder of the Mayo Clinic, Mayowood now contains period rooms.

The museum offers exhibits, educational programs, hands-on activities, museum tours, traveling trunks, and library access. Reservations are required for tours. The center also organizes baseball games, played in 1860s style. The Mayowood Estate offers period rooms and guided tours. The website offers virtual exhibits.

Women in History [OH]

Description

Women in History seeks to increase awareness of women's impact on U.S. history through dramatic re-creations of the lives of notable female figures. Costumes are period or patterned from period pieces, and hairstyles are created by a specialist in historic hair design. The organization is able to portray more than 100 historical figures.

The organization offers presentations, which generally include two 25-minute living history presentations by costumed "historical figures," an opening and closing, and time for questions and answers. The organization also offers two programs designed specifically for elementary and middle school students.

Pro Football Hall of Fame [OH]

Description

The Pro Football Hall of Fame commemorates athletes who have excelled in the sport of football, and presents the history of football in the U.S.

The hall offers self-guided tours, traditional and interactive exhibits, films, educational questionnaire booklets, educational programs in accordance with state educational standards, distance learning programs, seminars, teacher workshops, and a snack bar. Reservations are required for school groups. The website offers photographs, audio and video files, classroom activity suggestions by program, a teacher activity guide, and team activity guides.

Van Buren County Historical Society and Museums [IA]

Description

The Van Buren County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Van Buren County, Iowa. To this end, the society operates 1845 Pearson House, a residence and Underground Railroad site, the second floor of which served as a Methodist Church; the 1847 Ellis School; the Keosauqua Log Cabin; the Selma Cabin; and the Historical Society Museum. The museum is housed in the circa 1875 Twombly Building, which previously served as a post office, bakery, grocery store, newspaper headquarters, and clothing store.

The society offers period rooms and exhibits.

Dana-Thomas House

Description

The Dana-Thomas House, perhaps the best-preserved example of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie period" dwellings, was built for feminist socialite and heiress Susan Lawrence Dana (1862–1946). Constructed between 1902 and 1904, the house has been restored to appear as it might have been furnished shortly after being built. In 1974 the structure was entered on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1976 was designated a National Historic Landmark. One-hour guided tours begin at the carriage house visitor center, which contains a small exhibit area, an auditorium, and the Sumac Shop. Tours open with a 10-minute orientation video that provides background information on Frank Lloyd Wright, Susan Lawrence Dana, and construction of the Dana-Thomas House. Visitors see a stunning collection of elegant art glass, Arts and Crafts style furniture, dramatic lamps, and ceramics. Several items owned by Susan Lawrence Dana and her family are on display.

The site offers tours, exhibits, a short film, and educational and recreational events.

MacGregor Ranch [CO]

Description

The MacGregor Ranch is one of the last working ranches and interpretive museums in Colorado. The Ranch and its museum showcase Colorado's cattle ranching history with collections ranging from antique farming equipment to family heirlooms from the MacGregor family.

The site offers tours of the museum and ranch buildings including the barn, as well as educational programs for school groups. At certain time of the year, school groups are able to see the ranch at work with educational activities involving live animals. Self-guided educational programs are also available.