The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park [IL]

Description

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park works to preserve the birthplace and childhood home of the Earnest Hemingway. Hemingway was born in a small home located outside Chicago in Oak Park, Illinois. The foundation operates the Hemingway's childhood home as a historic house museum and also maintains a museum on Hemingway's life a short walk away.

The foundation offers exhibits and presentations in the museum, group and individual tours of the Hemingway birthplace, and traveling exhibits. The website offers visitor information, a brief biography of Hemingway, and links to literature by Hemingway.

Eiteljorg Museum of the American Indians and Western Art [IN]

Description

The Eiteljorg Museum of the American Indians and Western Art presents Western-themed works of art and cultural information on Native Americans nation-wide. The museum collections are particularly strong in Plains and Southwest Native American artifacts. Displays emphasize Native American cultural diversity. Artworks include Modernist pieces, contemporary works in traditional manners, and the works of the Taos Society of Artists (1915-1927).

The museum offers museum and thematic guided tours, optional field trip studio activities led by artists-in-residence, hands-on cart programs, an interactive children's exhibit area, library access, 10 educational programs, and sack lunches. Reservations are required for school groups, as well as for any sack lunch needs. The website offers audio and video podcasts, a teacher's guide, educational activity suggestions, and lesson plans.

Ohio County Historical Society and Museum [IN]

Description

The Ohio County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Ohio County, Indiana. To this end, the society operates a museum, housed in a 19th-century plow factory. This museum focuses on local life in the 1800s and early 1900s. Collection highlights include a record-winning, early 20th-century race boat called the Hoosier Boy and an auto-harp.

The society offers exhibits.

Ransom County Historical Society [ND]

Description

The Ransom County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Ransom County, North Dakota. To this end, the society operates a museum, located within an old general store. Other buildings in the museum complex include a single-room school, old flour mill, barn, and residence.

The museum offers exhibits and group tours. Appointments are required for group tours.

Sibley House Historic Site [MN]

Description

The Sibley House Historic Site consists of four historical limestone structures, dating to 1825 through 1853 when Mendota, Minnesota was an important player in the U.S. fur trade with the Dakota people. Begun in 1838, the home of Henry Hastings Sibley is the best known of the four. Sibley served as regional manager of the American Fur Company and the first Minnesota governor. Structures accessible to the public include the 1840 home of Jean-Baptiste Faribault, trader and hotelier, and an 1843 fur company cold store.

The site offers tours and period rooms.

Custer State Park [SD]

Description

Custer State Park commemorates the 1874 military expedition of Lt. Colonel George A. Custer (1839-1876). He entered the Black Hills seeking a location for a Dakota Territory frontier post, to map the area, and to catalog its natural resources. These resources included gold, triggering a rush to the area and substantial environmental damage. The park also include The Badger Hole, home of Charles Badger Clark (1883-1957), first South Dakota poet laureate, and the Gordon Stockade built between 1874 and 1875. Clark is best known for his cowboy poetry.

The park offers gold panning demonstrations, hands-on gold panning, tours of The Badger Hole, and interpretive signage near the stockade. The website offers a printable geocaching activity.

Sullivan-Johnson House [OH]

Description

The Sullivan-Johnson House presents the local history of Hardin County, Ohio. Collections include late 1800s Kenton toys and the Civil War medals of Jacob Parrot (1843-1908), the first recipient of the Medal of Honor. The home includes an 1890s parlor and paintings by Fred Machetanz (1908-2002).

The house offers exhibits, period room, and group tours.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum [MO]

Description

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum presents the history of African American baseball between the late 1800s and 1960s, when leagues were largely segregated. Exhibits include league information, historic photographs, information on African American businesses and period styles, and statues. The interior entrance emulates a period baseball stadium. The museum is located in Kansas City's 18th and Vine district, historically central to the city's African American population.

The museum offers multi-media exhibits; three films, including an eight-minute oral history interview presentation; and self-guided tours. Reservations are required for groups of over 25. These groups will be offered an introduction and, if possible, a guided tour.