Greensboro Historical Museum [NC]

Description

The 17,000-square-foot Greensboro Historical Museum preserves and presents the history of the Piedmont area. Visitors can explore exhibits recreating Greensboro life at the turn of the previous century or on topics including short-story writer O. Henry, First Lady Dolley Madison, the Greensboro Sit-ins, war, and work life. They can also tour the 1788 Isley House, the 1781 McNairy House (restored to its 1850 condition), and the First Presbyterian Cemetery.

The museum offers exhibits, guided tours for school groups, traveling trunks on loan for a small fee, in-class outreach presentations for a small fee, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Magnolia Mound Plantation [LA]

Description

Magnolia Mound Plantation illustrates and interprets the lifestyle of the French Creoles who formed the culture which still influences and pervades life in southern Louisiana. The plantation house was once the center of a 900-acre operation with frontage on the Mississippi River. Spanning the colonial era and early statehood, Magnolia Mound's collection of furnishings and decorative arts include one of the foremost public groups of Louisiana-made objects, in restored and documented settings.

The plantation offers exhibits and educational programs, including school tours and traveling trunks.

E. D. White Historic Site [LA]

Description

This National Historic Landmark was the residence of two of Louisiana's foremost political figures, Edward Douglas White, who was governor from 1835 to 1839, and his son, Edward Douglass White, who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1894 and served as chief justice from 1910 to 1921.

Today, an exhibit tells the story of the Bayou Lafourche area, with sections on the Chitimacha Indians, Acadian settlers, sugarcane plantations, slavery, and the White family.

Louisiana State Museum - Patterson

Description

The Louisiana State Museum - Patterson is the official state aviation and cypress sawmill industry museum and houses two important collections documenting state history.

The Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection focuses on the legacy of Louisiana aviation pioneers Jimmie Wedell and Harry Williams who formed an air service in Patterson in 1928. Both men became nationally prominent during what was known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Although both Wedell and Williams perished in plane crashes, their legacy lives on in the memorabilia and planes on display.

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Collection documents the history of the cypress lumber industry in Louisiana. Lumbering became the state's first significant manufacturing industry. As a result, cypress lumber harvested and milled in Louisiana was shipped in mass quantities across the United States. The town of Patterson was once home to the largest cypress sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams, and in 1997 the Louisiana State Legislature designated Patterson as the cypress capitol of Louisiana. The exhibit features a variety of artifacts, photographs, and film that tell the story of this important regional industry.

In addition, the museum also has a changing exhibit gallery that highlights other aspects of Louisiana's culture and history, and provides school tours and accompanying enhanced curriculum guides.

Madame John's Legacy [LA]

Description

Madame John's is an excellent example of Louisiana Creole residential design at the end of the 18th century. Because of its fine architectural character, it has been designated as an official National Historic Landmark. The architectural complex at Madame John's actually consists of three buildings: The main house, the kitchen with cook's quarters, and the two-story garconniere.

Today, the main house has been restored and is open to the public.

1850 House [LA]

Description

The Upper and Lower Pontalba Buildings, which make up the 1850 House, were built by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, the daughter of Don Andres Almonester y Roxas, the Spanish colonial landowner associated with the neighboring Cabildo, Cathedral, and Presbytere. Inspired by the imposing Parisian architecture the Baroness favored, the rowhouses were intended to serve as both elegant residences and fine retail establishments.

To illustrate the landmark's historical significance, the State Museum has recreated what one of the residences would have looked like during the Antebellum era when the Baroness Pontalba first opened her doors. Furnished with domestic goods, decorative arts, and art of the period, the 1850 House depicts middle-class family life during the most prosperous period in New Orleans's history. Limited docent- and curator-led tours are available, as is self-directed viewing.

Presbytere [LA]

Description

The Presbytere, originally called the Casa Curial (Ecclesiastical House), derives its name from the fact that it was built on the site of the residence, or presbytere, of the Capuchin monks. It was designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, or Town Hall, on the other side of St. Louis Cathedral. The building initially was used for commercial purposes until 1834 when it became a courthouse.

Today, the Presbytere offers exhibits on New Orleans history and culture.

Arsenal [LA]

Description

Built in 1839, the Arsenal was designed by noted architect James Dakin and is associated with an infamous battle that happened after the Civil War. During the period of Reconstruction several clashes occurred throughout the state between integrated and white supremacist groups. In 1874, the Battle of Liberty Place, wherein the Metropolitan Police of New Orleans were pitted against the Crescent City White League, occurred. The White League prevailed, forcing the Metropolitan Police into the Customhouse and the Cabildo. From the adjacent Arsenal, the Police fought back by shooting cannonballs toward Chartres Street.

Today, the Arsenal offers exhibits and occasional recreational and educational events.

Louisiana State Museum - Baton Rouge

Description

The Louisiana State Museum features thematic exhibits on the diverse aspects of Louisiana history, industry, and culture. The museum includes two permanent exhibitions: Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation, and Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America. Topics range from the Louisiana Purchase to Sportsmen's Paradise to Mardi Gras traditions throughout the state. Artifacts include a 48-foot wooden shrimp trawler, a Civil War submarine, a record-breaking marlin, a Krewe of lawnmowers, a New Orleans Lucky Dog cart and musical artifacts from Fats Domino, Buddy Guy, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Aaron Neville, and much more.

The museum offers school tours; for the third and eighth grades, these include enhanced curriculum guides.