Canal Corridor Association and Gaylord Building

Description

The Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving history, protecting nature and open space, and creating tourism destinations in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. The Association also manages the Gaylord Building, a National Trust Historic Site, in Lockport, Illinois. One of the oldest industrial buildings in the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, the 1838 Gaylord Building is a model of adaptive reuse, featuring the Public Landing restaurant, canal exhibits and more. More than 150 years ago, the Gaylord Building played a major role in creation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, the final link in America’s great water highway system of the 19th century. The Building also serves as a base for the Lockport Sleepers Vintage Base Ball Club, composed of living historians who interpret the national pastime as it was played in the late 1850s.

The association offers lectures and educational and recreational events; the building offers exhibits, tours, occasional living history events, and educational and recreational programs.

Museums of Old York [ME]

Description

The Old York Historical Society, as the Museums of Old York, was founded more than 100 years ago to preserve the history and artifacts of York, Maine. Originally referred to as Gorgeana, York is one of New England's earliest colonial settlements. It also has the distinction of being the nation's first chartered city (1641) and first incorporated city (1642). Offering 37 period room settings and several galleries housed throughout nine historic museum buildings, the Museums of Old York showcases a wealth of early New England art, architecture, and decorative arts. The exhibits focus on the stories of southern Maine's men, women, and children and the world they created and lived in from the earliest settlement in the 1600s to the present day. Historic structures include the 1834 Remick Barn, the 1750 Jefferds' Tavern, the 1745 Old Schoolhouse, the 1742 Emerson-Wilcox House, the 1719 Old Gaol, the 1747 Ramsdell House, the 1740s John Hancock Wharf, the 1867 George Marshall Store, and the 1730 Elizabeth Perkins House.

The museums offer exhibits, tours, living history demonstrations, classes, and other educational and recreational events.

LeRoy Historical Society and Jell-O Gallery

Description

The Society operates the Jello-O Gallery, which presents exhibits related to the history of Jell-O, including a new exhibit that reflects Bill Cosby's influence over 30 years. Visitors can listen to entertainers Kate Smith, Jack Benny, and Lucile Ball as they promote the Jell-O product over the radio air waves and see television personalities Andy Griffith and Gomer Pyle along with Bill Cosby as they pitch Jell-O. The Gallery also houses an exhibit highlighting the evolution of transportation in the 20th century.

The gallery offers exhibits and tours.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Ca d'Zan, and Circus Museums [FL]

Description

Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866–1936) and his wife, Mable (1875–1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian art, American paintings, and contemporary art. The Ulla R. and Arthur F. Searing Wing hosts a variety of traveling exhibitions throughout the year. The estate features the spectacular Cà d'Zan ("House of John"), a waterfront mansion that was restored in 2002. The Circus Museums, including the Tibbals Learning Center, display the world's largest miniature circus, costumes, wagons, performance equipment, and other artifacts chronicling the history of the Circus. The estate also features Mable Ringling's Rose Garden, completed in 1913, and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

The museums offer exhibits and tours; the Ca d'Zan offers tours; the museum complex as a whole offers performances, lectures, film screenings, educational programs, research library access, educational and recreational events.

Theatre Historical Society of America and American Movie Palace Museum

Description

THSA is the only organization in the U.S. which exclusively records and preserves the rich architectural, cultural and social history of America's theatres. Through its collections and publications, THSA makes available information on more than 15,000 theatres, primarily in the United States, and encourages further research in these areas. The Society also operates the American Theatre Architecture Archives and the American Movie Palace Museum. The Archives contain an extensive collection of photographs, slides, negatives, books, blueprints, clippings, videos, printed programs, and other material on historic theatres, primarily in the U.S. The Museum features exhibits of photographs, artworks, antiques, artifacts, and other memorabilia relating primarily to the "golden age of the movie palace."

The society offers annual tours; the archives offer research access; and the museum offers exhibits and tours.

University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame [FL]

Description

The Hall displayas photos of each of the hall inductees and the National Championship Trophies for University of Miami Football and Baseball, along with the Heisman Trophies of Vinnie Testaverde and Gino Torretta. A basketball and memorabilia from the Rick Barry years are on display, along with memorabilia from all sports. Also on display is the Seminole War Canoe which was for many years the prize for the winner of the University of Miami vs. Florida Football games. The Trophies for all of the University's Bowl Appearances are on display from the Palm Bowl (the first and original Orange Bowl) to this year's Rose Bowl. The unusual is also on display, including a picture of the University's first collegiate national championship team, the 1931 National Collegiate Polo Championship Team.

The hall offers exhibits.

Johnson Victrola Museum [DE]

Description

The Museum is a tribute to Delaware's native son, Eldridge Reeves Johnson, who founded the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. Exhibits include phonographs, recordings, memorabilia, trademarks, objects, and paintings that highlight Mr. Johnson's successful business enterprises and chronicle the development of the sound-recording industry.

The museums offers exhibits, tours,

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Description

The Museum is a 7,200-square-foot facility located on the main level of the Sommet Center. The Museum features interactive games such as a virtual reality, one-on-one basketball game; strength training apparatus used by Olympic swimmers; college football and basketball exhibits; NASCAR video games, two 30-seat theaters with sports videos; and more.

The hall offers exhibits, tours, film screenings, and educational programs.