This uniquely preserved blacksmith shop is exactly as German immigrant Matthew Edel left it the day he died. Edel, a skilled blacksmith and inventor, operated the shop until his death in 1940. Visitors can see his tools and wares and hear stories about blacksmithing during the age before tractors and automobiles.
The site offers tours and demonstrations.
The Vincennes State Historic Sites commemorate Indiana's early state history—with the city itself founded in 1732. Structures include the 1805 Indiana Territory capital building; a historic print shop; the birthplace of the author Maurice Thompson; an 1838 bank; Fort Knox II, hospital to the wounded of the Battle of Tippecanoe; the 1801 Jefferson Academy; and a prehistoric burial mound. Maurice Thompson (1844-1901) authored 1900's bestselling romance novel, Alice of Old Vincennes. Topics covered include slavery, military life, domestic life, historical sciences, the fur trade.
The sites offer period rooms, educational outreach programs, group tours, educational presentations, interpretive signage, educational programs, lesson plans, and summer camps.
The Isham-Terry House is a time capsule of genteel life in turn-of-the century Hartford. Dr. Oliver Isham bought the 1854 Italianate Villa in 1896. Here he had his physician's office and lived with his sisters Julia and Charlotte. Julia and Charlotte occupied the house until the 1970s, defying the urban renewal juggernaut that demolished so many historic homes. The sisters made so few changes and modernizations to the house that crossing its threshold today is like stepping back in time. Room after room is filled with objects of historical and family significance: ornate gaslight fixtures; stained-glass windows; rare books and paintings; Connecticut-made clocks; and memorabilia from Hartford High School, the Ishams' alma mater. Even Dr. Isham's office, with surgical instruments and medicines, was left undisturbed. Dr. Isham also possessed a rare collection of early Connecticut automobile memorabilia.
The house offers exhibits and tours.
The Michigan Firehouse Museum, located within Ypsilanti's 1898 firehouse and a 12,000 square foot exhibit area, presents state fire fighting history and modern fire safety. The firehouse bunk room has been restored to period appearance. Collections include 20 historical fire rigs and other fire fighting apparatus.
The museum offers a period room, exhibits, and group tours. Please call in advance for group visits.
The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude presents the history of North Central Idaho. Collections include more than 10,000 archival materials; 150 years of textiles; weaponry, some of which was used in the 1877 Nez Perce War; Nez Perce artifacts; a range of historic office machinery, including a 1902 Burroughs “Moon Hopkins” bookkeeping machine and an 1895 Dactyle calculator; world minerals; mining equipment; medical artifacts, including a 1900 fetal monitor and a tonsillectomy chair; and artifacts of Chinese immigrants. The museum also owns many of Polly Bemis' previous possessions. Bemis (1853-1933), originally from China, was brought to an Idaho mining camp as a female slave. Roughly 12,000 artifacts, some of which date to the 14th century, are on display.
The museum offers exhibits
The Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum presents the history of automobiles and motorcycles. The museum defines vintage automobiles as being at least 25 years of age.
The museum offers exhibits.
South Pass City has a variety of interesting and educational activities for visitors throughout the summer. When the presence of volunteer staff permits, not only can visitors walk through each of the 17 restored and exhibited original structures, they can enjoy ice-cold sarsaparillas and a game of billiards on a restored 1860s period table, as well as hear the ring of a hammer on steel when the blacksmith shapes hot iron. Each day, one can shop in the historic Smith-Sherlock General Store or pan for gold in the clear waters of Willow Creek. In the Interpretive Center, visitors can also learn about other gold-producing methods that have been used around South Pass City throughout its history.
A second website for the site can be found here.
The site offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, and occasional educational and recreational events (including living history events).
The Harkin Store Historic Site consists of a general store which closed in the 1870s. The inventory remained in place.
The site offers a period room and costumed interpreters.
The D and H Canal Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the Delaware and Hudson Canals with specific attention given to those portions of the canals within Ulster County. To this end, the society operates the Canal Museum. The museum boasts a collection of more than 4,000 artifacts including photographs, artworks, documents, models, a recreated interior of a canal boat cabin, and other items. Artwork includes a painting by Hudson River School artist William Rickarby Miller. The remains of five canal locks can be seen.
The society offers exhibits, guided museum and walking tours, a scavenger hunt, lesson plans, activity suggestions, traveling trunks, and Scout programs.
Holyoke Heritage State Park is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and preserves the area's unique industrial history. By the mid 19th century, Holyoke was home to 50 cotton mills and 4.5 miles of canals. Today, the park is home to a visitor center and children's museum.
The park offers exhibits and presentations in the visitor center, field trip programs, outreach programs, and guided tours. The website offers a brief history of Holyoke and visitors information.