Great Brook Farm State Park [MA]

Description

The 1,000-acre Great Brook Farm State Park preserves long-standing agricultural, Native American, and milling histories. Cellar pits mark the site of a 17th-century English mill community, portions of the grounds have been considered sacred to local Native American groups, and modern farming continues an on site Holstein dairy tradition which began prior to 1950.

The park offers dairy tours, more than 20 miles of trails, and outdoor activities. Dairy tours are offered May through October.

Columbia State Historic Park [CA]

Description

The town's old Gold Rush-era business district has been preserved, with shops, restaurants, and two hotels. Visitors have the chance to time-travel to the 1850s, imagining life when gold miners rubbed shoulders with businessmen and the other residents in Columbia. Visitors can experience a bygone era watching proprietors in period clothing conduct business in the style of yesterday. There are opportunities to ride a 100 year-old stagecoach, pan for gold, or tour an active gold mine.

The park offers exhibits, tours, living history events, educational programs, and educational and recreational events.

Gaithersburg Community Museum [MD]

Description

The Gaithersburg Community Museum presents the history of Gaithersburg, MD. The museum consists of the restored 1884 B and O Railroad Station complex's Freight House, History Park, and Gaithersburg Railway Museum rolling stock. The Freight House holds local history exhibits, and the History Park contains plantings and plaques. Collection highlights include a 1918 steam locomotive.

The museum offers exhibits and educational programs.

Naval Undersea Museum [WA]

Description

The Naval Undersea Museum presents information on the oceans and marine technology. Permanent exhibit topics include the physics and biological aspects of the world's oceans, torpedoes, mine warfare, civilian and military diving gear, and submarines. The museum torpedo display is the largest in the country. Collection highlights include a Confederate marine mine.

The museum offers films, audio, exhibits, hands-on activities, and speakers. Offerings for students include focus tours, art projects, construction projects, gallery tours, films, and a youth docent program.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village [MI]

Description

The Henry Ford Museum presents U.S. ideas and inventions. Exhibit topics include agriculture; clockwork; automobiles; Presidential limousines; furnishings; manufacturing; jewelry; home appliances; R. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House, a 1940s house of the future; aviation; human rights within the United States; silver; pewter; transportation; and 20th-century generations. Collection highlights include Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, one of George Washington's camp beds, a replica of the Wright brothers' Flyer, the limousine in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated, a Gothic steam engine, and the Goldenrod. The Goldenrod broke world land speed records in 1965. The 80-acre Greenfield Village incorporates 83 historic structures. District themes include the railway, an 1880s working farm, Thomas Alva Edison, home life between the 17th and 20th centuries, historic skills, and the Model T Ford.

The museum offers exhibits, three curriculum-based guided activity programs, one curriculum-based dramatic presentation, and cafes. The village offers exhibits, interactive activities, the opportunity to ride historic vehicles, eight curriculum-based dramatic presentations, a self-guided activity for students, restaurants, and a food stall. The site also offers teacher workshops, a teacher fellow program, summer camps, Scout programs, and a youth mentorship program. Wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for use on site. The village is closed between January and mid-April. The website offers virtual exhibits, teacher's guides, student exploration guides, suggested pre- and post-visit activities, a club for teachers, and audio tour downloads.

Matheson Museum [FL]

Description

The Matheson Museum consists of four entities—the Matheson Museum, Matheson House, Tison Tool Museum, and Sweetwater Park. The Matheson Museum presents the history of Alachua County, FL. Permanent exhibits address the Timucuan; Spanish occupation; and Willam Bartram, 18th-century botanist. The 1867 Matheson House has been restored to period style. It is used to discuss the history of Gainesville, FL and the family which once owned the home. The Tilson Tool Museum presents historic tools, and honors the labor which was exerted to create Alachua County's structures. Sweetwater Park is an outdoor site which provides a brief overview of Gainesville history.

The museum offers period rooms, exhibits, guided tours, interactive tours for students, group tours, and research services. The Matheson House and Tilson Tool Museum are open by appointment only. Reservations are required for group and student tours. A fee is charged for one hour of research conducted upon request. The website offers a curriculum guide.

Jarrell Plantation Historic Site [GA]

Description

The Jarrell Plantation Historic Site is a historic cotton plantation. The main plantation residence was built in 1847, and many of the furnishings within are those made by the original owner, John Fitz Jarrell. Jarrell's descendants later transitioned the plantation's industry to wood products.

The site offers period rooms, tours, and summer camps.

Mount Desert Island Historical Society and Museums [ME]

Description

The Mount Desert Island Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Mount Desert Island, ME from 1761 to present. To this end, the society operates the 1892 Old School House and Museum, the Farm Stand at the Old School House, the Somesville Historical Museum and Gardens, and the Selectman's Building and Bridge. The Farm Stand presents transportation, craft, and agricultural artifacts. The Somesville Historical Museum grounds contain an heirloom garden. The Selectman's Building, erected in the 1780s, now houses displays on cobbling.

The society offers exhibits, period rooms, gardens, an 1894 school day program for third and fourth grade students, and children's activities. Guests wishing to see the Old School House and Museum in June should call ahead to verify that the site will be open when they plan to visit. The Selectman's Building is open July through September.

Chicago History Museum [IL]

Description

The Chicago History Museum presents Chicago, IL, and select national history. Permanent exhibits include Chicago economy, disasters, community life, innovations, leisure, recreation, and history dioramas. Collections consist of more than 22,000,000 prints, photographs, architectural artifacts, archival documents, published materials, paintings, sculptures, oral histories, films, costumes, decorative arts, and industrial artifacts.

The museum offers traditional and interactive exhibits, media presentations, a sensory exhibit for children and families, hands-on activity stations, guided tours, self-guided tours, history tours by boat, step-on guides, 45-minute audio tours, Saturday walking tours, film screenings, teacher workshops, and research library access. Audio tours are available in English and Spanish. The website offers educational games, an artifact spotlight, virtual exhibits, a teacher's guide, unit plans, pre- and post-visit activities, lesson plans, and a curriculum.