Friends of Fort Knox [ME]

Description

Fork Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Observatory were built to protect Maine's cost during the 1860's. Though the fort never saw any combat, troops were posted at the fort throughout the 19th century. Today the fort is a reminder of 19th century military technology.

The site offers free tours of the fort for school groups and a small fee for tours of the observatory. Online teacher resources are provided on their webpage but the site offers no specific educational programming or tours for students.

Hanover Tavern [VA]

Description

The Hanover Tavern is a 1791 county government building, which would have originally existed within a complex including a courthouse and jail. The tavern complex has served as a Union and Confederate boarding house and the site of the first U.S. armed slave insurrection, the 1800 Gabriel's Slave Rebellion. Today, the site serves as a historic interpretive center, community center, and restaurant.

The tavern offers workshops, lectures, family nights, and self-guided tours.

Fulton County Historical Society and Museums [IN]

Description

The Fulton County Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Fulton County, Indiana. To this end, the society operates a museum; a 1924 round barn, containing historic farming implements; a living history village; and a research library. Exhibit topics include music, art, living conditions between 1910 and 1935, toys, medicine, Native Americans, education, the military, recreation, trade, religion, and the circus.

The society also manages another site (www.potawatomi-tda.org) which shows the Potawatomi Trail of Death 1838 diary, photos of all 78 historical markers and of the many Potawatomi who had ancestors on the Trail of Death from Indiana to Kansas, exhibits, period rooms, a tour and scavenger hunt for students, and research library access.

Big Springs Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Big Springs Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Caledonia-Mumford community, New York. To this end, the society operates a museum. Museum collections include Caledonia’s Seth Green Fish Hatchery artifacts, costumes and textiles, military artifacts, religious artifacts, educational artifacts, natural history samples, fine and decorative arts, and Native American artifacts.

The society offers exhibits and on site research assistance.

Old Dutch Parsonage and Wallace House [NJ]

Description

The parsonage was built in 1751 and first occupied by Reverend John Frelinghuysen, who came from Amsterdam to serve three congregations of the Dutch Reform church in the upper Raritan Valley. The second occupant of the Parsonage, the Reverend Jacob Hardenbergh, founded Queens College in 1766 while residing in the house. While living at the Dutch Parsonage, Hardenbergh sold 95 acres of land and a small farmhouse to John Wallace, a Philadelphia fabric importer and merchant. Between 1775 and 1776, Wallace purchased an additional 12 acres of land and built an eight-room Georgian style mansion adjoining part of the existing farmhouse. It was the largest house built in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War. Naming his estate "Hope Farm," Wallace intended the property to be his country seat and place of retirement.

The site offers tours.

A.H. Stephens Historic Park [GA]

Description

The 1,777-acre A.H. Stephens Historic Park contains a museum of the Confederacy and the home of A.H. Stephens (1812-1883), Vice President of the Confederacy and Governor of Georgia (1882-1885). Stephens' home has been restored and furnished to an 1875 appearance.

The park offers exhibits, tours of the Stephens' residence, trails, outdoor activities, and picnic shelters. Payment is required to reserve use of a picnic shelter.

USS Constitution Museum [MA]

Description

Only yards away from the USS Constitution (or "Old Ironsides"), the oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat in the world, the Museum explores the history of this vessel. Interactive galleries take visitors through the ship's 200-year history.

The museum offers two permanent exhibits, as well as temporary exhibits; guided and self-guided tours for school groups; educational programs for K–5; and occasional recreational and educational events.

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum [SC]

Description

The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum presents U.S. Naval and air history and technology via a collection of Navy vessels and World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and modern military planes. The USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier; 24 historical military aircraft; the USS Laffey, a World War II destroyer; the USS Clamagore, a Cold War Balao-class submarine; the USCGC Ingham, a World War II and drug bust cutter; a Congressional Medal of Honor exhibit; a Vietnam War Naval Support Base Camp replica; and the Cold War Submarine Memorial are all located on site.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, guided group tours, self-guided tours, a youth overnight program, curriculum-based history and science educational programs for students, scavenger hunts for students, youth leadership and history seminars, two snack bars, and food options in the mess hall. The mess hall only offers food between April and November. The USS Laffey, USS Clamagore, and USCGC Ingham offer little to no wheelchair accessibility. Groups must contain at least 15 paid visitors.

The USS Laffey is closed until further notice for repairs.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine [MD]

Description

The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine preserves Fort McHenry, defensive site of the 1814 Battle of Baltimore. It was this battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem "The Star-Spangled Banner," now the U.S. national anthem.

The site offers an introductory video, self-guided tours, exhibits, period rooms, a flag change program, educational programs for students, and Junior Ranger activities. During the summer, the site also offers talks; weekend living history interpreters; musket, drill, and artillery demonstrations. Three weeks advance notice is required for school visits. The website offers lesson plans and a teacher's guide.