Pecos National Historical Park [NM]

Description

Pecos National Historical Park "preserves 12,000 years of history including the ancient pueblo of Pecos, Colonial Missions, Santa Fe Trail sites, 20th century ranch history of Forked Lightning Ranch, and the site of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass. For several centuries the Upper Pecos Valley has been one of those rare places where the impact of geography on human experience is strikingly clear." The park is full of history, ranging from early American Indians to the Civil War in the west and Spanish settlement.

The park offers a 10-minute introductory film, exhibits in English and Spanish, guided tours, a one-mile trail, summer demonstrations, and Junior Ranger activities. Two weeks advance notice is required for all guided tours. The website offers detailed historical information regarding the park, as well as general visitor information. In order to contact the park via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route [NJ]

Description

The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route is an auto trail stretching nearly 300 miles along new Jersey's shore and bays. Highlights along the trail include the nation's oldest operating lighthouse, the town where revolutionaries burned British tea, and the state's official tall ship. The trail also offers limitless opportunities for recreation, most notably fishing, hiking, boating, and canoeing.

The site offers links to destinations along the trail, a history of the trail, historical features about the New Jersey coast, and visitor information for the trail. In order to contact the trail by email, use the "contact us" link on the left side of the webpage.

John Muir National Historic Site [CA]

Description

"John Muir was many things, inventor, immigrant, botanist, glaciologist, writer, co-founder of the Sierra Club, fruit rancher. But it was John Muir's love of nature, and the preservation of it, that we can thank him for today." The John Muir National Historic Site takes visitors on a tour of John Muir's Life, from his powerful nature photography to his roles as a writer and preservationist. In addition, visitors can admire Muir's beautiful home and learn more about the Muir family.

The site offers basic historical and visitor information about the National Historic Site, but links to Museum Collections at the John Muir National Historic Site website, located at http://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/jomu/index.html. This site contains more detailed historical and bibliographical information of John Muir, as well as photo galleries of all current exhibits. In order to contact the National Historic Site by email, use the "contact us" link on the original webpage.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore [NC]

Description

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The National Seashore is home to many attractions, from the sandy beaches and maritime forests to the three lighthouses on the islands and two park visitor's centers. The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world, and is the only one of the three lighthouses open for climbing. However, the other two lighthouses have much to offer as the keepers' quarters are open to visitors and both feature visitor's centers with exhibits and guided tours.

The park offers exhibits, tours, field trips, and special events through the two visitor's centers, as well as miles of trails and beach for outdoor enthusiasts. The website offers a history of the park, information about the park's ecology, lesson plans for teachers, field trip information, and general visitors information. In order to contact the park via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site [MT]

Description

Once the headquarters of a 10-million-acre cattle empire, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is a working cattle ranch that commemorates the role of cattlemen in American history. Among the original buildings on the site are the historic ranch house, the bunkhouse, the blacksmith shop, horse barns, and cattle sheds. The main ranch house was built by Johnny Grant (1831–1907) in 1862. It was a trading post downstairs and a residence upstairs. In 1866 he sold the ranch to Conrad Kohrs (1835–1920) who became known as the "Cattle King" in Montana. Site collections number 23,000-plus artifacts, consisting of everyday objects once used by the people who lived and worked at this ranch from the 1860s to the 1960s. Highlights include historic wagons and buggies.

The site offers exhibits, walking trails, self-guided tours, guided wagon and house tours, a variety of themed talks, period rooms, ranger-led in-classroom presentations, a traveling trunk, archives accessible by appointment, and an annual teacher workshop. The website offers lesson plans geared towards Montana educational standards, photo galleries, and a video on the use of a beaverslide hay stacker.

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Description

Eisenhower National Historic Site is the home and farm of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Located adjacent to the Gettysburg Battlefield, the farm served the President as a weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders. The site comprises 690 acres and includes four farms, three of which were used by President Eisenhower for his show herd of black Angus cattle. Today the farm is maintained as it was during the Eisenhower years and the President's home retains nearly all its original furnishings.

The site offers tours, a short film, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Timucuan Historical and Ecological Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial [FL]

Description

The Timucuan Historical and Ecological Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial is a 46,000-acre National Park Site consisting of several historical sites. The 1564 Fort Caroline Memorial recalls a brief period of French occupation during the 16th-century; and includes the Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center, which recounts area environmental history and human interaction with the environment. Visitors to the memorial can compare French fort and traditional Timucuan life. Other sites include the Theodore Roosevelt Area shell middens and nature trails; the 1814 through 1837 Kingsley Plantation; the 1935 American Beach, founded to provide African Americans access to the beach despite segregation; the Cedar Point nature area; and the 1928 Ribauldt Club, once a wintertime resort.

The memorial offers exhibits, activities to complete while viewing the exhibits, Junior Ranger activities, interpretive programs, and ranger-led student programs. Other sites offers opportunities for hiking, nature watching, water activities, and camping; other Junior Ranger activities; interpretive programs; exhibits; and ranger-led student programs at the Kingsley Plantations. The website offers site specific activity pages, mp3 tours, videos on kayaking and making tabby, slide shows, and curriculum materials for the Kingsley Plantation and Fort Caroline.

The Ceder Point boat ramp and Kingsley Plantation residence are currently closed for renovation. Other park and plantation structures remain accessible to the public.

Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site [AL] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:37
Description

The Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site is located on Tuskegee University. Sights include the George W. Carver (circa 1864-1943) Museum and The Oaks, Booker T. Washington's (1856-1915) home. Other figures honored include Dr. Frederick W. Patterson (1901-1988), founder of the United Negro College Fund, and Dr. Robert Moton, who stressed the need for health care for African American veterans. Carver is known for his support of the peanut as an alternative to the southern cotton crop, which had been ravaged by the boll weevil. Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers, later the Tuskegee Institute, to provide education to African American students. Due to the strength of the aeronautical engineering program at the institute, the site was selected by the military to train African American pilots for World War II.

The site offers exhibits, interpretive programs, 30-minute introductory films on George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, guided tours of The Oaks, period rooms, tours of the historic Tuskegee University, and 2-hour curriculum-based programs. Reservations are required for curriculum-based programs. The Oaks is not fully wheelchair accessible. Films can be played with captions.

George Washington Birthplace National Monument [VA]

Description

Visit the house where George Washington, first President of the US and commander of the Continental Army, was born and spent his early years. The house burned in 1779 although its foundation survived. The home was rebuilt in the 1930's and now contains pieces from the Colonial era.

The site offers tours for school group as well as Virginia SOL-based educational programs (grades K-7). In addition to history education programs the site also offers environmental education programs on grounds. Outreach programs can be arranged during the winter months. Curriculum materials can be downloaded free of charge for teachers to use both before and after their visit.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site [KY]

Description

The site focuses on Lincoln's life in Kentucky. The Birthplace Unit demonstrates his humble beginnings with a symbolic birth cabin enshrined within a neo-classic Memorial Building. The Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek Farm was home to Lincoln during his formative years. Events in Kentucky helped mold a young boy into the man who became the nation's 16th President.

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).