Kentucky Historical Society

Description

The Kentucky Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of the state of Kentucky. To this end, the society operates the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and Special Collections, the Old State Capitol, and the Kentucky Military History Museum. The center presents Kentucky history and famous figures from Kentucky, including Daniel Boone and Ashley Judd. The library houses more than 90,000 published works, as well as archival materials. The Old State Capitol was the first Greek Revival structure west of the Appalachians, and was used between 1830 and 1910. The military museum, located within the Old State Arsenal, presents state military history.

The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History offers exhibits and research library access. The Martin F. Schmidt Research Library and Special Collections offers research library and archives access. The Old State Capitol offers period rooms. The Kentucky Military History Museum offers exhibits. Reservations are required for group tours. Curriculum-based interactive tours are available for students. The society also offers children's activities, a junior historical society, theatrical productions, monthly brown bag lectures, geneaology workshops, teacher workshops, and an annual Kentucky history conference.

The Kentucky Military History Museum is closed for renovations.

Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site [LA]

Description

The 371-acre Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site preserves the cotton plantation of Daniel Turnbull, one of the richest men in the nation during his lifetime. The 1835 plantation home still contains many of its original furnishings. The site also includes extensive gardens, a doctor's office, and a barn, as well as 10 other historic structures.

The site offers tours, period rooms, educational programs, gardens, and a picnic area.

Museum of Automobiles [AR]

Description

The Museum of Automobiles presents historic automobiles, related memorabilia, historic arcade machines, an antique gas pump, a player piano, and antique firearms. The museum permanent collection consists of 30 vehicles—with others on loan from locations throughout the U.S. Vehicles on display date from 1904 through 1969.

The museum offers exhibits. Advance notice is required for groups.

Hanover Tavern [VA]

Description

The Hanover Tavern is a 1791 county government building, which would have originally existed within a complex including a courthouse and jail. The tavern complex has served as a Union and Confederate boarding house and the site of the first U.S. armed slave insurrection, the 1800 Gabriel's Slave Rebellion. Today, the site serves as a historic interpretive center, community center, and restaurant.

The tavern offers workshops, lectures, family nights, and self-guided tours.

F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum [AL]

Description

The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum presents the works and lives of F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) and his wife, Zelda (1900-1948). The museum is located in the couple's last remaining residence, which they inhabited between 1931 and 1932. Fitzgerald is best known for his novel The Great Gatsby. The couple was considered by the press of their day to be a perfect embodiment of the Jazz Age.

The museum offers exhibits.

Boyds Historical Society and the Boyds Negro School [MD]

Description

The Boyds Historical Society seeks to preserve and share the history of Boyds, Maryland. To this end, the society operates the Boyds Negro School. This school served the local African American population between 1895 and 1936.

The society offers tours of the Boyds Negro School. The school is open the last Sunday of each month and by appointment. School groups are welcome.

Burwell School Historic Site [NC]

Description

The Burwell School Historic Site presents the lives of the individuals who lived within and near Burwell School during the antebellum years and the Civil War. The site includes a circa 1821 residence; circa 1837 brick necessary; and an academy for girls, the Burwell School. The school functioned between 1837 and 1857. The site was also home to more than 30 slaves, including Elizabeth Hobbes Keckly (1818-1907), who would become a close friend of Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckly eventually wrote Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years as a Slave and Four Years in the White House.

The site offers 45-minute guided tours, self-guided garden tours, a fourth-grade curriculum-based program, outreach programs for schools, a Scout program, workshops about Keckly, research library access, and research assistance.

Riversdale Historic House Museum [MD]

Description

Riversdale, a National Historic Landmark, is a restored, five-part, stucco-covered brick plantation home built between 1801 and 1807. Construction of this elegant manor house was begun by Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and was completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore. The Federal style mansion has particularly fine interior decorative detail. Numerous nationally significant figures later lived there.

A second website, for the Riverside Historical Society, which supports maintenance and interpretation of the house, can be found here.

The house offers tours, exhibits, educational programs, workshops and classes, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

A.H. Stephens Historic Park [GA]

Description

The 1,777-acre A.H. Stephens Historic Park contains a museum of the Confederacy and the home of A.H. Stephens (1812-1883), Vice President of the Confederacy and Governor of Georgia (1882-1885). Stephens' home has been restored and furnished to an 1875 appearance.

The park offers exhibits, tours of the Stephens' residence, trails, outdoor activities, and picnic shelters. Payment is required to reserve use of a picnic shelter.