Pro Football Hall of Fame [OH]

Description

The Pro Football Hall of Fame commemorates athletes who have excelled in the sport of football, and presents the history of football in the U.S.

The hall offers self-guided tours, traditional and interactive exhibits, films, educational questionnaire booklets, educational programs in accordance with state educational standards, distance learning programs, seminars, teacher workshops, and a snack bar. Reservations are required for school groups. The website offers photographs, audio and video files, classroom activity suggestions by program, a teacher activity guide, and team activity guides.

Historic Mobile Preservation Society [AL]

Description

The Historic Mobile Preservation Society was founded in 1935 in order to help preserve the history of Mobile, Alabama. The society's main attraction is the Oakleigh Historic Complex, which consists of a historic house museum, local history museum, and historic archives. The Oakleigh home is fitted with 19th century antique furniture, and is open to visitors year round. The society also owns the Cox-Deasy House, which is also operated as a historic house museum.

The society offers guided tours, research resources, and special events. The website offers a history of the Oakleigh home, resources for fourth grade teachers, and visitor information.

Bridgton Historical Society [ME]

Description

The Bridgton Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the historical heritage of Bridgton, Maine, and the surrounding areas. The society owns and operates a local history museum, as well as Narramissic, the Peabody-Pitch Farm. Today, Narramissic stands as a historic house museum, and offers visitors a glimpse of rural life in New England on the eave of the Civil War.

The society offers guided tours of the museum and Narramissic, monthly presentations, and research resources. The website offers a history of Bridgton, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Circus World Museum [WI]

Description

The Circus World Museum chronicles the history of the American Circus, from its inception in the late 1700s until the present day. The museum features a live circus in addition to a library and research center.

The museum offers field trip programs, a library and research center, special events including festivals and shows. The website offers visitor information, an events calendar, and a history of Circus World.

Barnum Museum [CT]

Description

The Barnum Museum presents the history of Bridgeport, Connecticut, particularly as related to the life of P. T. Barnum (1810-1891), the force behind one of the United States' primary circus enterprises. Exhibit topics include an Egyptian mummy, 19th-century Bridgeport life, the American tour of Swedish opera star Jenny Lind (1820-1887), and the life of Tom Thumb (died 1883). The museum also contains a 1,000-square-foot carved circus model and a reconstruction of one of Barnum's libraries, including the original furnishings.

The museum offers lectures, self-guided tours, guided tours, concerts, lectures, teacher workshops, a slide presentation, interactive educational programming in compliance with state educational standards, and an outreach slide presentation about the life of P. T. Barnum.

Woodlawn Museum [ME]

Description

Woodlawn Museum is a historic home, containing its original furnishings. Collections include both European and American art, furniture, carriages, and sleighs. Completed in 1827, Woodlawn housed a major area timber and land dealing family.

The museum offers guided tours, period rooms, free croquet lessons, an annual lecture series, a hands-on historic game library, and gardens. All special events include children's activities. Reservations are required for school tours. Picnic lunches are welcome on grounds. The website offers children's activities.

Salem Historical Society and Museum [VA]

Description

The Salem Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Salem, Virginia. To this end, the society operates a museum. Located within a mid-19th-century residence, post office, and general store, the museum offers exhibits on daily life, local Native American groups, the Civil War, local African American history, and the Lakeside resort. A historic herb garden and late Victorian parlor are also available for viewing.

The museum offers exhibits, a period room, a historic garden, walking tours, and outreach presentations.

The Salem Museum is currently closed for renovation. However, walking tours and outreach presentations are still available.

International Motorsports Hall of Fame Museum [AL]

Description

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is located in Talladega, Alabama, and serves both as a Hall of Fame and as a museum of motorsports. The Hall of Fame has been open since 1990 and currently has well over 100 inductees. The museum chronicles the history and technology of motorsports, and features an impressive collection of vintage and modern racing cars, including Richard Petty's Dodge Charger and the first vehicle to break the speed of sound on land.

The museum offers self-guided tours, exhibits, a research library, and tours of the adjacent Talladega Superspeedway. The website offers a photo gallery of the museum, brief biographies of all inductees, a virtual tour, a history of the Hall of Fame, and general visitor information.