John Brown Museum

Description

Reverend Samuel Adair and his wife, Florella, were peaceful abolitionists who came to Kansas and settled near Osawatomie, an abolitionist community and a center of conflict during "Bleeding Kansas." The Adair cabin was a station on the Underground Railroad and Florella's half brother, John Brown, used this cabin as his headquarters. The cabin survived the Battle of Osawatomie where John Brown and 30 free-state defenders fought 250 proslavery militia in 1856, and stands on the battle site today. Visitors to the Museum can learn more about the Adairs, John Brown, and others who struggled to survive the border war.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, and occasional educational and recreational events.

Thompson-Ames Historical Society of Gilford and Museums [NH]

Description

The Thompson-Ames Historical Society of Gilford seeks to preserve and share the history of Gilford, NH and its people. Particular emphasis is given to Gilford's agricultural history. The society operates three museum structures—the 1834 Union Meetinghouse, John J. Morrill Store of 1857, and the circa 1838 Benjamin Rowe House. The Meetinghouse holds local history exhibits which address religion, leisure activities, military history, and agriculture. The site also contains a Victorian period room and town hall and schoolhouse settings. Highlights include a horsehair sofa, ice fishing equipment, and an eight-foot traverse sled. The Greek Revival Morrill Store used to serve as the meeting place for a farmer's organization. The interior contains an 1800s homestead living room setting; an 1857 store setting; a circa 1940 kitchen; historic signs; musical instruments; and artifacts related to the Grange, New Hampshire government, and local theater. The Greek Revival Benjamin Rowe House is furnished to the style of the 19th and early 20th centuries on the ground floor and the 20th century on the upper floor.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, tours, school tours, and archive access. Archival materials include transcriptions and recordings of oral histories.

Historic Governors' Mansion [WY]

Description

This Colonial Revival Executive Mansion served as home to Wyoming's governors and their families for 71 years (1905 to 1976). The history embodied in this mansion brings to life the people who served the State of Wyoming and the Nation from this location. Perhaps the greatest distinction of the home is that in 1925 it was the first in the United States to be occupied by a woman governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross. Today, Mansion is open to the public as a historic house museum; it now reflects decor from 1905, 1937, 1955, and 1960s era throughout the home.

The mansion offers exhibits and tours.

Lyman Museum and Mission House [HI]

Description

The Lyman Mission House was built in 1839 as the Hawaii residence of New England missionaries David and Sarah Lyman. The home has been restored to period style, and is used to depict the lives and challenges of the Lymans. The neighboring museum presents Hawaiian history and culture through fine art pieces, other artifacts, and natural history exhibits. Exhibit topics include Hawaii climate zones, wildlife, minerals, shells, native tools and costume, Hawaiian royalty, sugar industry immigrants, and Chinese art. The site is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.

The site offers period rooms, guided house tours, exhibits, guided house and museum tours for students, outreach programs for students, Elderhostel programs, and archive access. Appointments are required for archive access. All school groups must make reservations.

West Virginia Independence Hall

Description

The circa 1857 West Virginia Independence Hall once housed the federal offices of the Western District of Virginia. Political discussions and differences in ideology eventually led to West Virginia's separation from Virginia and 1863 entrance into the Union. The site has been furnished in period style. The hall's permanent exhibit addresses the process of gaining statehood in the historical context of the Civil War.

The hall offers an introductory film, period rooms, exhibits, self-guided tours, and group tours led by costumed interpreters. Reservations are required for group tours.

Wickersham State Historic Site [AK]

Description

The Wickersham State Historic Site preserves one of the residences, built in 1898, of James Wickersham (1857-1939). Wickersham served as a judge and Congressional delegate for Alaska; and is widely recognized as a key figure in Alaska's development. The home now presents period furnishings, artifacts, and photographs related to Wickersham and the Gold Rush.

The site offers exhibits.

Vermont State Historical Society and Museum

Description

The Vermont State Historical Society presents the history of the state of Vermont from the days of Abenaki dominance to circa 2000. To this end, the society operates a museum and a history and genealogy research library. The Vermont History Museum's permanent exhibit depicts change over time through a series of full-size period settings, interpreting the state motto, "Freedom and Unity." Collection highlights include the document which officially admitted Vermont to the Union and shoe buckles once worn by Ethan Allen (1738-1789), who helped capture Fort Ticonderoga in 1775.

The society offers exhibits, curriculum-based guided student tours with hands-on activities, curriculum-based student educational programs, traveling trunk rentals, a lending library for educators, in-service educator training, family workshops, and research library access. Students and members may use the library free of charge. The website offers virtual exhibits, transcriptions of select manuscripts and Civil War diaries and letters, historical photographs, and lesson plans.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza [TX]

Description

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza presents information pertinent to the November 22, 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Evidence following the event pinpointed the sixth floor of the Texas Schoolbook Depository, now the site of the museum, as the location from which the bullets were fired. Exhibits address the investigation, national and world responses, the time period, the legacy of Kennedy and of the event, and Kennedy's trip to Texas. Collections include more than 35,000 artifacts and 600 oral history interviews.

The museum offers more than 45 minutes of documentary films, exhibits, self-guided tours, audio guides, educational programs for students, teacher workshops, and a research center. Appointments are necessary to utilize the research center, and reservations are required for all groups of 20 or more. The audio guides include news excerpts and the voices of reporters, police officers, and witnesses; and the audio guide is available in English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and a youth version. The museum also offers wheelchairs for use on site, and transcriptions of the audio guide content. The website offers a student gallery guide.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum [NJ]

Description

The Macculloch Hall Historical Museum preserves the circa 1810 residence of George Macculloch, known as the father of the Morris Canal, his immediate family, and his descendants. Collections include 18th- and early 19th-century fine and decorative art pieces from England and the U.S., as well as works by major 19th-century political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902). Nast is responsible for the Republican elephant, Democratic donkey, and the prevailing U.S. visualization of Santa Claus. The grounds hold gardens, which have been restored to their 19th-century appearance.

The museum offers house tours, garden tours, and educational programs for students. School and group tours are by appointment only.