Western Gateway Heritage State Park

Description

A former railroad yard, this urban park uses historical artifacts and exhibits to bring to life the controversial and danger-filled construction of the Hoosac Tunnel, one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century. The tunnel was dug 4.75 miles through Hoosac Mountain, linking Massachusetts to Albany, NY. 200 men lost their lives building the tunnel, which is still being used today. An audio-visual presentation takes visitors back in time, where the sounds of dripping water, pickaxes against stone, explosions, and debates recreate the hardships and heroism of the tunnel's construction. Outside, several beautifully restored buildings that were once used to store freight and commodities surround a cobblestone courtyard. The buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Programs such as concerts, walking tours, arts and crafts, and environmental education are offered regularly to the public. In addition, the gallery has become well known for its exhibits that feature work by area artists and historical themes.

The park offers exhibits, a short film, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events.

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.

Historic Salisbury Foundation and Historic Structures [NC]

Description

The Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is preserving, protecting, and enhancing the special historic character of Salisbury and Rowan County through education, neighborhood revitalization, advocacy, and the preservation of historic landmarks. It also maintains and operates the Josephus W. Hall House, the Salisbury Station and the Grimes Mill. The 1820 Hall House contains the silver, china, and furniture of the Hall family, which owned the house beginning in 1859; the 1908 Salisbury Station has been restored and is tourable by appointment; and the 1896 Victorian roller mill, Grimes Mill, contains five floors of early mill machinery, and is tourable by appointment.

The foundation offers tours and occasional recreational and educational programs; the historic sites offer tours.

Virginia Air and Space Center

Description

The Virginia Air and Space Center serves as the visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base. Visitors' imaginations will soar as they launch a rocket, pilot a space shuttle, and come face-to-face with the Apollo 12 Command Module and a DC-9 passenger jet. They can also experience a 3D IMAX film in the Riverside IMAX Theater.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, IMAX film screenings, lectures, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

National Automobile Museum [NV]

Description

The Museum presents displays recreating four authentic street scenes, representing each quarter of the 20th century, with autos, artifacts, and sounds from each era. Street scenes also display building facades and a timeline of events chronicling the history of the automobile. The Museum also presents changing exhibits.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, film screenings, symposiums, workshops, and educational and recreational events.

Louisville Fire History and Learning Center

Description

The center exists to educate the Louisville community in fire and home safety while preserving the city's rich history. The center's collection includes a rare 1892 Hale Water Tower, one of 12 chemically-raised water towers built in the United States by Hale; a working vintage communications system featuring the "Joker"; a photo collection illustrating the history of the nation's third oldest professional fire department; and memorabilia, including uniforms, helmets, badges, and tools of the profession.

The center offers exhibits.

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.