Mackinac State Historic Parks [MI]

Description

Mackinac State Historic Parks is the coalition of parks located on Mackinac Island. The Island is home to the Mackinac State Park, which covers roughly 70 percent of the island, Historic Downtown, which consists of five historic buildings and features costumed interpreters, Colonial Michlimackinac, a colonial fur trading outpost, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Fort Mackinac, which was occupied by British soldiers in the 18th century and American soldiers in the 19th century.

The organization offers guided tours, field trip programs, outdoor activities in the state park, interpretive events, and occasional special events such as re-enactments. The website offers visitor information, histories of the five parks, event calendars, and several photo galleries.

The Bedford Historical Society [VA]

Description

The Bedford Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the historical heritage of Bedford, Virginia, and the surrounding area. The society is headquartered in the Wharton House, a brick house which was built in 1883. The home now serves as a historic house museum.

The society offers exhibits and guided tours within the Wharton House. The website offers visitor information, a copy of the society newsletter, and a history of the society.

John Dickinson Plantation [DE]

Description

The John Dickinson Plantation was the home to John Dickinson, a Delaware member of the Continental Congress (who didn't sign the Declaration of Independence), Delaware Congress, Constitutional Convention, and Governor of Pennsylvania. He was known for his opposition to American Independence. His home serves as an excellent example of an 18th century plantation.

The site offers character-interpreted tours on a variety of topics designed to adhere to Delaware educational standards (K-12). Tour topics include daily life, slavery, colonial plantation workings, etc.

The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson [TN]

Description

The Hermitage is the rural home of former US President Andrew Jackson. The 1,000 acre property was purchased in 1804, and Andrew Jackson's Federal style home was finished in 1821. The home now stands as a historic house museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The home offers guided tours, field trip programs, and special events such as workshops and interpretive events. The website offers visitor information and a history of The Hermitage.

Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing [KY]

Description

Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, is an example of a typical 19th century farm along the Ohio River. Today the site consists of the historic house, a detached 19th century kitchen, archeological excavations, and a kitchen garden. A Visitors' Center, museum shop, and cruise service are also offered.

The site offers an award-winning field trip program, Building Block of History, that can be adapted for any grade level and meets curriculum standards for many subject areas. The program includes a tour of the historic house, a chance to participate in the ongoing archeological dig on-site, and a hands-on activity where students can create their own archeological artifact. The site offers pre-visit activities for teachers to use in their classroom as well. Another option is the Life On the River program, which can also be adapted for any grade level.

Richland Historical Society [PA]

Description

The Richland Historical Society was founded in 1958 by a group of former teachers in order to aid in the preservation of the Shelly One-Room School. Today, the society continues to work towards preserving the history of the one-room school system.

The society offers guided tours of the Shelly One-Room School as well as special events. The website offers visitor information and a brief history of the society. In order to contact the society via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Nevada State Railroad Museum

Description

The Nevada State Railroad Museum contains a collection of locomotives and other rail memorabilia from Nevada's history including the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Many of these were used in the 19th century before being bought by Hollywood studios for use in films.

The museum offers exhibits, train and motor car rides, and other recreational and educational events.

Monmouth County Historical Association [NJ]

Description

Monmouth County was first settled in the mid-1600s by Dutch settlers attracted to the rich farmlands and convenient location. The Monmouth County Historical Association is dedicated to preserving the history of Monmouth County, from its early history to the present day. The association maintains a local history museum, a research library and archives, and five historic house museums.

The association offers traveling trunk programs, exhibits in the museum, guided tours of the museum and of the historic house museums, and special events. The website offers visitor information, a listing of upcoming events, and a brief history of Monmouth County.

Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site [ND]

Description

Known historically as "the Gateway to the Dakotas," Fort Abercrombie was the first permanent United States military fort established in what was to become North Dakota. It was also the only post in the area to be besieged by Dakota (Sioux) warriors for more than six weeks during the Dakota Conflict of 1862. During the Dakota Conflict, Minnesota Volunteer soldiers manned the fort when area settlers sought shelter there. The "regular" U.S. Army soldiers had been withdrawn during the Civil War and had been replaced by the Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. The fort was not protected by blockhouses or a palisade during the seige, but these defensive structures were constructed soon afterward. The fort guarded the oxcart trails of the later fur trade era, military supply wagon trains, stagecoach routes, and steamboat traffic on the Red River. It also was a supply base for two major gold-seeking expeditions across Dakota into Montana. Fort Abercrombie served as a hub for several major transportation routes through the northern plains.

The site offers exhibits.

Kansas Oil Museum

Description

The 10-acre Kansas Oil Museum presents the history of the discovery of oil and the growth of the oil industry within the state of Kansas, as well as the history of Butler County. The site includes historical oil field equipment and a "boom town" of historic buildings. Topics addressed include G.W. Brown’s 1860s oil well, John Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, the connection between geology and oil, farming, ranching, and Native American ways of life.

The museum offers exhibits, camps, tours, Scout programs, oil rig demonstrations, educational outreach programs, and research library access. Advance notice is needed for oil rig demonstrations and school tours. The website offers definitions of drilling terminology and a writing competition.