Friends of the Governor's Mansion [TX]

Description

The Friends of the Governor's Mansion advocate the history, preservation, and restoration of Texas' 1856 Greek Revival Governor's Mansion. The mansion has served as the official home of every governor of Texas and governor's family since its construction in 1856. The mansion is the single oldest executive residence west of the Mississippi River.

The website offers suggested educational activities and suggested reading.

The mansion is closed for periodic restoration, complicated by fire damage.

Rose Lawn Museum [GA]

Description

The Rose Lawn Mansion was originally built for nationally renowned evangelist Samuel Porter Jones. In 1973, the Victorian mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1978 was purchased by Bartow County and converted into a historic house museum. The home houses the writings and memorabilia of both Samuel Jones and Rebecca Felton, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate.

The museum offers guided tours year round, as well as exhibits on both Samuel Jones and Rebecca Felton. The website offers a history of the home, information regarding current exhibits, visitor information, and a calendar of events.

Mecklenburg Historical Association [NC]

Description

The Mecklenburg Historic Association preserves the history of the first county of the United States. Mecklenburg County declared its independence from Great Britain with a Declaration of Independence in May 1775, over a year before the Continental Congress took a similar action.

The association offers quarterly presentations on Mecklenburg history, periodic walking tours of local historic structures, and the docent program which offers re-enactments and guided tours or nearby historic sites. The website offers historical information regarding Mecklenburg County, as well as information regarding programs offered by the association.

Sandy Spring Museum [MD]

Description

The Sandy Spring Museum was established in 1980 in order to help preserve the history of the Sandy Spring area, which was rapidly transitioning from a rural farming community into a popular community for commuting professionals.

The museum offers exhibits on local history, a summer camp for children, field trip programs, interactive workshops on activities such as basket weaving and carding wool, and special events. The website offers an events calendar, visitor information, historical information regarding Sandy Spring, and information regarding all programs offered by the museum.

The John G. Riley Foundation, Inc. [FL]

Description

The John G. Riley Foundation works towards the preservation of the John Riley House and of the cultural and educational history of African Americans in Tallahassee, Florida. The foundation operates the Riley House Museum, which is a typical historic house museum. The Museum is also home to the foundation's extensive library.

The foundation offers exhibits in the Riley House Museum, an oral history program, a historic archive, educational programs, and workshops. The website offers visitor information, a brief history of the home, information regarding upcoming events, and a brief biography of John Riley.

Historical Society of Kent County and Museum [MD]

Description

The Historical Society of Kent County is dedicated to preserving Kent County and Chestertown's heritage as a commercial center in colonial times. The society is headquartered in the Geddes Piper House, which is a fine example of the Federal style of architecture. Today, the house serves as society headquarters, a local history museum, and a historic house museum. The home also is host to the society's extensive local history archives.

The society offers exhibits in the Geddes Piper House, guided tours of the house, tours of other Chestertown historic homes, and special presentations. The website offers visitor information, histories of Chestertown and the Geddes Piper House, and access to the society's archives.

Bellamy Mansion Museum [NC]

Description

The Bellamy Mansion Museum is one of North Carolina's most spectacular examples of antebellum architecture. Built just before the Civil War for physician, plantar, and business leader John Bellamy, the mansion was built using both free and slave labor. Today, the mansion stands as a historic house museum, and focuses on the history of design art and preservation.

The museum offers guided tours, exhibits on design and preservation, and special events. The website offers visitor information and a history of the home.

Arkansas Post Museum

Description

Early travelers used the Arkansas River as a highway. Just north of the waterway lay a land of tall grasses filled with elk, buffalo, and deer. Explorers such as Audubon, Schoolcraft, and Washington Irving were startled at the expanse of land in this region. Visitors can stroll through this museum's complex of five buildings and explore life on the Arkansas Grand Prairie.

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site [NC]

Description

Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was an American poet, writer, and editor and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. The Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site preserves Sandburg's residence, 65,000 artifacts utilized to interpret his life, and Mrs. Sandburg's goat dairy. The dairy currently raises goats representative of the three breeds historically present.

The site offers a 14-minute video, 30-minute guided house tours, period rooms, live performances of Sandburg's works, a standards-based education program for middle school students, and Junior Ranger activities.

Historic Latta Plantation [NC]

Description

Historic Latta Plantation is a historic cotton plantation, dating to circa 1800, and living history farm.

The plantation offers a 15-minute introductory video, guided house tours, self-guided grounds tours, educational programs, traveling trunks, home school programs, and summer camps. The website offers a teacher resource guides, suggested reading, historic games, instructions for making historic toys, and a virtual tour.