The Real Treason of Aaron Burr

Description

From the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History website:

"In 1807, Aaron Burr was tried and acquitted on charges of treason for his 'adventures' in the American West, but he had fallen out of favor in American life long before, after he had run for president against Thomas Jefferson, served a single term as vice president, and shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in an 1804 duel. A free spender, a womanizer, and the only Founding Father who was actually descended from the English aristocracy, Burr was famously secretive and conspiratorial, leaving little archival record of his dealings. In this lecture, historian Gordon Wood argues that Burr's true treason was not his actions in the West but his naked ambition, his lack of principals and character that made him a threat to the young republic."

Heslin House [OR]

Description

The Heslin House, located in Fairview, OR, beside the Columbia River, is an impressive example of Western Farmhouse architecture. The home was purchased by the Fairview-Rockwood-Wilkes Historical Society in 1991, and now stands as a historic house museum.

The house offers guided tours. The website offers a brief history of the home as well as visitor information.

Beehive House [UT]

Description

The Beehive House, built 1854, was the home of Brigham Young (1801-1877) during his years as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as the Governor of the Utah Territory. The interior is furnished in period style. The name of the residence comes from the beehive which sits at the top of the home as a symbolic reminder of the importance of an industrious nature.

The house offers free 30-minute tours.

Sedona Heritage Museum [AZ]

Description

The Sedona Heritage Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Sedona, Arizona, from its founding in 1876 up to the present day. The museum is located in an old farmhouse, and serves as a museum of local history, with artifacts, documents, and pictures which document the history of the town.

The museum offers guided tours, exhibits, hands-on workshops for schoolchildren, and special events including periodic presentations. The website offers a history of Sedona, visitor information, and an events calendar.

Zimmerman House Museum [OR]

Description

The Zimmerman House Museum is located in East Multnomah County, Oregon. The home was purchased by the Zimmermans in 1869, and was donated to the Fairview Rockwood Historical Society in 1987 in order to serve as a historic house museum. The museum focuses primarily on the life and times of the residents of the home, and contains an impressive collection of thousands of artifacts.

The site offers basic visitor and historical information regarding the Zimmerman House Museum. The site is also part of the Fairview Rockwood Historical Society website, and so offers information about the society and their projects.

Museum of the Oregon Territory [OR]

Description

The Museum of the Oregon Territory provides visitors with changing exhibits on the Oregon Territory, Clackamas County, and historic Oregon City. Recognized as the official end of the Oregon Trail, Oregon City was Oregon’'s first capital and a major industrial and political center in the West. Highlights include 15,000 year-old petroglyphs and artifacts from Willamette Valley Native American communities. The museum is also home to the Clackamas County Historical Society’s extensive collection and library, where guests can research land claim documents, marriage returns, Civil War records, and historical photographs.

The museum offers exhibits and a research library.

Patterson Township Historical Society and Museum [CA]

Description

The history of the Patterson Township began with a Mexican land grant given to two brothers in 1844. The town was entirely sold to T.W. Patterson and family by 1908. Patterson decided to build his town in the same way as Paris and Washington D.C., laying out a series of circles with radiating streets. Patterson soon became a vibrant farming community in California's central valley. In 1978, the Center Building was granted to the Historical Society for use as a Patterson Township history museum. Today, the museum also serves as the headquarters for the Patterson-Westley Chamber of Commerce.

The site offers several photographs depicted early figures from Patterson's history and the present day history museum, purchasing information for "The Gateway," the Patterson Historical Society's annual publication, and general information regarding the society.