Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame [RI]

Description

The Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame celebrates the unique accomplishments of the Herreshoff family and the related drama of the America's Cup races. From 1863 to 1945, the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, on the site of the present day Museum, produced the world's finest yachts. The genius of naval architect Captain Nathanael Greene Herreshoff along with the business acumen of his blind older brother John Brown Herreshoff truly built the "better mouse trap" for which the world beat a path to Bristol. Today, visitors from around the world see the nation's finest collection of yachts, all Herreshoff and many more than 100 years old. They can view the design models recording Captain Nat's design genius and see the products of his innovations. The companion America's Cup Hall of Fame is the international center for appreciation of the Cup.

The museum offers exhibits, research library access, lectures, classes, and occasional recreational and educational programs; the hall offers exhibits.

Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association [RI]

Description

The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association is Rhode Island's oldest ethnic historic group, and chronicles the history of Jews in Rhode Island. The society works with local educational institutions in order to aid in scholarship and education regarding Jews in Rhode Island.

The society offers teaching aids, historical resources, and artifacts that can be used by teachers in the classroom. The society also offers research resources. The website offers basic information regarding the society and its resources and programs.

Florence Griswold Museum [CT]

Description

The Florence Griswold Museum building was the site of one of the most renowned Impressionist art colonies in the United States. Founded in 1899, the Lyme Art Colony hosted Impressionist and Tonalist artists such as Edward Rook, Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalfe, and Henry Ward Ranger. The artists favored landscapes and plein air painting. The museum itself is housed within the 1817 Late Georgian mansion in which the artists boarded. The upper floor hosts exhibits while the lower maintains the appearance of the home in 1910. The site also includes additional exhibit space, an education center, the restored gardens, and William Chadwick's (1879-1962) studio.

The museum offers exhibits, period rooms, guided tours for groups, self-guided tours, student tours, student hands-on activities, school outreach programs, resource library access, painting opportunities, workshops, summer camps, gardens, lectures, educator workshops and tours, and boxed lunches. If students wish to order boxed lunches rather than bringing a bag lunch, advance notice is required. Outreach program options include art activities and lectures. The website offers the opportunity to watch a video about the colony, a teacher's guide, lesson plans, pre- and post-visit activity suggestions, and suggested reading lists.

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House

Description

This is the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a prominent poet in the transcendentalist movement of the early 19th century.

School tours are available for the house and for downtown Portland. Activities for younger students are also offered. Teacher resources and on-line activities are free.

Denison Homestead Museum [CT]

Description

The Denison Homestead Museum preserves the 1717 home of George Denison, located on land given to his grandfather for his service as captain of the local militia. Pequotsepos Manor presents the history of the Denison family. Periods depicted include the 1730s, 1775-1785, the 1830s, 1890s, and 1930s. The grounds boast period gardens.

The museum offers period rooms, guided tours, a video or presentation on Frederick Douglass, archaeological digs for students, guided tours for students, guided activities for students, Scout programs, trails, gardens, outreach activities, and a picnic table. Please contact the museum to ascertain which programs will be offered at the time you wish to visit.

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.

Brockton Historical Society and Museums [MA]

Description

The Brockton Historical Society operates several museums relevant to the history of Brockton, Massachusetts. These include a fire museum; shoe museum; and a historic residence, known as The Homestead. The 1767 Homestead has not been restored to a specific period's appearance. It contains a local history library, as well as exhibits on Thomas Edison, shoes, and heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano (1923-1969). The shoe museum contains shoes from throughout U.S. history, as well as several pairs worn by celebrities. The Brockton Fire Museum is listed separately within this database.

The society offers exhibits. The website offers video clips of Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler and historic images.

Peabody Essex Museum [MA]

Description

The Peabody Essex Museum is an art museum, which seeks to engage visitors' interest in the cultural, historical, and human aspects which the works convey through their context of creation. Museum galleries include American decorative arts, Native American contemporary and traditional art, Korean art, Chinese art for use in China and for export, Japanese art for use in Japan and for export, Asian arts on paper, Indian art for use in India and for export, Oceanic art, maritime art, and photography. The museum also operates Yin Yu Tang, a Qing dynasty (1644-1911) home from Anhui Province, China.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, hands-on art activities, themed guided tours, self-guided tours, 14 curriculum-based programs for students, programs for educators, family programs, a restaurant, and a cafe. Student programs are available with focuses on American art and culture, Asian art and culture, and the visual arts. The website offers Asia, Chinese aesthetics, and Salem witch trials curricula; a teacher's guide to the American collections; slide shows of select current exhibits; images of collection highlights; and a virtual tour of Yin Yu Tang.

The Art and Nature Center will be closed until June 20, 2009 for the installation of a new exhibit. The galleries housing Intersections, Native American Art in a New Light are closed until August 2009.

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.