American Swedish Institute [MN]

Description

The American Swedish Institute is a historic house museum, cultural center, and history and culture museum dedicated to the history, culture, and accomplishments of Swedish Americans. The institute is located within an early-20th century chateauesque mansion. Exhibit topics include immigration, craft traditions, homeland nostalgia, historical Swedish populations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and Swedish-American vaudeville.

The institute offers period rooms; exhibits; group tours; children's language and culture classes; summer day camps; a Lucia choir; customizable school tours; student educational programs; and student outreach programs, including role-playing, living history, and storytelling presentations. Reservations are required for group tours and all student programs.

Bayfield Heritage Association and Heritage Center [WI]

Description

The Bayfield Heritage Association seeks to preserve and share the history of Bayfield and the Apostle Islands region, Wisconsin. To this end, the association operates the Bayfield Heritage Association Heritage Center. Key topics include settlement, logging, brownstone quarries, agriculture, fishing, tourism, and transportation.

The center offers exhibits, a period barbershop, tours, educational programs, and seminars. Upon request, the center will play filmed oral history interviews in which residents discuss when and how their families came to the area.

The Meeker Mansion [WA]

Description

The Meeker Mansion was completed in 1890 and is a fabulous example of Italianate Victorian architecture. The home was constructed for Eliza Jane, the wife of Ezra Meeker, who had wanted a nicer home after a trip to England. The Meekers lived in the home until Eliza Jane's death in 1909, at which point Ezra abandoned the house. Today, the home serves as a historic house museum, and gives visitors a glimpse of life in Washington at the turn of the century.

The home offers guided tours and special events. The home is also available for rental for events such as weddings. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the home, and an events calendar.

Blackhawk Automotive Museum [CA]

Description

The Blackhawk Automotive Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of automobiles in the United States. In particular, Blackhawk is focused on preserving significant automotive treasures that blend culture, technology, and art. The museum is located in Danville, California, and also is home to an automotive research library.

The museum offers guided tours, exhibits, a lecture series, and field trip programs. The website offers visitor information, an events calendar, and information about all museum programs.

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

Description

The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum commemorates and honors outstanding Virginia athletes, sports journalists, coaches, and other influential sports figures. Topics addressed through exhibits include college sports, sports media, the Redskins, automobile racing, golf, the Olympics, major historical and current Virginia sports events, nutrition, and sports medicine, among other items.

The hall offers an introductory film, traditional and interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, racing simulations, educational programs which meet state standards, school educational outreach programs, teacher workshops, and Scout programs.

Chinqua-Penn Plantation [NC]

Description

The Chinqua-Penn Plantation, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of America's great architectural models. Designed in the fashion of an English Countryside Mansion, Chinqua-Penn is notable both for its size and its grandeur. Today, the home stands as a historic house museum and is furnished with the same furniture used by the Penns.

The home offers guided tours and special events. The website offers visitor information, a history of the home, an events calendar, and a virtual tour. In order to contact the mansion via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Pearl S. Buck Museum [WV]

Description

The Pearl S. Buck Museum is located in the mountains of West Virginia, and commemorates the birthplace of renowned author Pearl S. Buck, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature in 1932. The museum is located in the home where Buck was born, and today serves as a museum of the life and times of Pearl S. Buck.

The museum offers self-guided tours of the home. The website offers a brief history of the site as well as basic visitor information.

Hollywood Historical Society Inc [FL]

Description

The Hollywood Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the history of Hollywood, Florida. The society runs a research center, which is open to the public year round, and the Hammerstein House, which is open on the first Sunday of the month during the fall and winter months. The Hammerstein House serves as a historic house museum and gives visitors a glimpse into life in Hollywood during the 1920s and 1930s.

The society offers annual home tours, guided tours of the Hammerstein House, and research resources. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the Hammerstein House, and information regarding upcoming events.