Alabama Department of Archives and History [AL]

Description

The Alabama Department of Archives and History preserves the history of Alabama, maintaining an extensive archive of primary and secondary source material from and on the history of Alabama as well as a museum which features exhibits and hosts events regarding Alabama history.

The Department offers lecture series, guided tours of the museum and archives, and interactive media for children. The website offers educational resources including worksheets, interactive online activities, resources for teachers, and links to other online historical resources. The website also offers online exhibits, a virtual tour of the archives, and historical information about Alabama.

Charleston Museum and Historic Houses [SC]

Description

The Charleston Museum has the distinction of being America's first museum. The museum focuses on the history of Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. In addition to the museum, the organization also maintains two historic houses, the 1803 Joseph Manigault House and the 1772 Heyward-Washington House.

The museum offers educational programs for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as presentations tailored specifically to home-schooled children. The museum also offers a variety of exhibits, including traveling exhibits, and guided tours; the two historic house museums are also open for tours. The website offers online lesson plans, visitor information, an events calendar, information regarding the museum's educational programs, and histories of the two historic house museums.

Clallam County Historical Society and Museum at the Carnegie [WA]

Description

The Museum at the Carnegie offers a glimpse of life from Clallam County's past. The exhibit "Strong People: Faces of Clallam County" introduces visitors to people who helped build the community. Visitors will learn about early settlers in "Charting the Last Frontier"; hear three distinct tribal languages in "Our Ancestral Heritage"; explore the arts in "Body, Mind, and Spirit"; examine the issues behind the creation of Olympic National Park in "This Land is Your Land"; learn about timber and agriculture in "Home Grown"; find out about the towns that cover our county from east to west in "Creating Communities"; and discover our maritime history in "Our Strategic Coastline."

The society offers research library access, lectures, and occasional recreational and educational events; the museum offers exhibits.

Mission Houses Museum [HI]

Description

Built between 1821 and 1841, the three mission houses that make up the Museum served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries to travel to the Hawaiian Islands. The Frame House (Ka Hale La'āu), was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawai'i. The Chamberlain House (Ka Hale Kamalani), built of coral blocks in 1831, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies. The third building, also of coral blocks, completed in 1841, today functions as the Printing Office (Ka Hale Pa'i). A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawai'i is demonstrated there on a regular basis. In addition, the Museum grounds are the location of the Hawaiian Mission Children's Society (HMCS) library. Among the library's artifacts are the earliest books printed in the Hawaiian language. These books were used by missionaries and scholars alike in church and school.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, workshops, lectures, and other educational and recreational programs.

California Surf Museum [CA]

Description

The California Surf Museum preserves and showcases the history of the sport of surfing.

The museum offers a large collection of surfing equipment, including vintage surfboards. The museum puts on a variety of events, including concerts and educational programs and videos. Tours are available to the public year round and to groups by request. The website offers basic visitor information and information regarding upcoming events.

Virginia Historical Society, Battle Abbey, and Virginia House [VA]

Description

The Society works to collect, preserve, and interpret the Commonwealth of Virginia's history for the education and enjoyment of present and future generations. The society runs two museums: the Battle Abbey, which also serves as the headquarters of the society, and the 1929 Virginia House, an historic house museum.

The society offers a variety of educational services, including presentations for elementary and middle school students, exhibitions designed to meet the requirements of grade-specific SOLs, boxes for loan with reproductions of primary materials [travelling trunk programs are almost always for loan, not pay], and a summer teacher's program. The society also offers exhibitions and tours of their museums. The website offers digital collections and exhibits, visitor information, information regarding current exhibitions, an online selection of society publications, and an events calendar.

Pearce-McAllister Cottage [CO]

Description

The Dutch Colonial Revival Pearce-McAllister Cottage, built in 1899, reflected the original owners' desires to have a cottage similar to those seen in the older districts of the eastern United States. The second owners, the McAllisters, remodeled the interior in the 1920s decor seen in the home. Today, the Pearce-McAllister Cottage is home to the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys, which manages the site, and has exhibits throughout the house. The collection encompasses more than 10,000 items dating from 1680 through today.

A second website, focusing more closely on the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls, and Toys that occupies the cottage, can be found here.

The cottage offers exhibits, tours, workshops, educational programs, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Western Historic Trails Center [IA]

Description

The Center prepares visitors for an adventure along the western historic trails. Here, they can receive an orientation for trips north following the Lewis and Clark Trail or for trips west following the routes of early travelers on the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails. They can enter the Lied Historical Building on the Path of Names to enjoy educational exhibits, maps, films, and sculpture.

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

Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum [GA]

Description

The Museum preserves the history of Valdosta and Lowndes County. Located in the old Carnegie Library, it hosts almost 10,000 sq. ft. of historic displays and research material.

The museum offers exhibits, tours, and events that showcase the museum and the history of Lowndes County. The museum also houses a research library. The website offers a brief history of Valodsta, an online newsletter, information regarding the research library, a kids webpage, and three online collections.