Mare Island Historic Park Foundation [CA]

Description

David Glasgow Farragut founded the Mare Island Shipyard in 1854, and the Navy closed the yard in 1996. During that period, over 500 ships, including nuclear submarines, were built at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The Foundation cares for four of the most historic buildings in Mare Island's National Historic Landmark District. These include St. Peter's Chapel (built 1901), renowned for its Tiffany-designed stained glass windows; Quarters "A" (built 1900), largest (10,500 square feet) of the 13 colonial revival mansions; Quarters "B," a mansion of 7,400 square feet also called the "Captain's Mansion;" and Building 46 (built 1855), originally a smithery, then the pipe shop, now the Artifacts Museum.

The foundation offers tours and occasional workshops and classes; Building 46 offers exhibits.

El Camino Real International Heritage Center [NM]

Description

The newest State Monument tells the fascinating story of more than three centuries of trade and commerce that traversed the trail, linking Spain, Mexico, and the United States at a time when mules, trains, and horses were the only means of land travel. The award-winning building is set amidst the pristine Chihuahuan Desert north of the Jornada del Muerto and houses an exhibit that takes visitors on a virtual journey along the historic trail from Zacatecas, Mexico to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visitors can discover the indigenous people encountered by the Spanish and the impact the arrival of the Spanish had on the formation of New Mexico. Remnants of the early journey remain today in hand-hewn carts, tools, leather water jugs, and religious altars and objects that accompanied the travelers into the northern territory. Visitors experience the journeys of Native Americans, Spaniards, and Mexicans; the military fort period; and the first Anglo settlers from the Eastern United States, through first-person stories and the art and objects they brought with them.

A second website, maintained by the El Camino Real International Heritage Center Foundation, can be found here.

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

Northwest Railway Museum [WA]

Description

The Museum displays exhibits in the turn-of-the-century Snoqualmie Depot, incorporating displays interpreting the purpose and function of a train station with outdoor displays of restored railway equipment. It also operates an Interpretive Railway Program called the Snoqualmie Valley Railroad. This five-mile common carrier railroad allows museum visitors to experience a train excursion aboard antique railroad coaches through the Upper Snoqualmie Valley.

The museum offers exhibits, train rides, educational programs, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events

Evanston Historical Society and Charles Gates Dawes House [IL]

Description

The Dawes House was built in 1894–5 on a two-acre site near Lake Michigan. Designed in the style of French chateaux by architect Henry Edwards-Ficken of New York, the massive three-and-a-half story structure has 25 rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and 11 fireplaces. The house was built for Robert Sheppard and his family; it was purchased by Charles Gates Dawes in 1909 and remained the Dawes family home until 1957 when it was given to Northwestern University to be used as the headquarters of the Evanston Historical Society (now known as the Evanston History Center). Northwestern University gave the house to the EHC in 2009.

The house is open to the public for docent-led tours. The two parlors, formerly used as a reception room and a music room, now feature exhibitions. The library, dining room, and great hall are furnished mostly with original Dawes pieces. A permanent exhibit on Evanston history is located on the second floor, with smaller rotating exhibits on the 2nd floor and in the research room.

The EHC offers lectures, workshops, and other educational programs, as well as community events. School and group tours are available upon request. The EHC maintains an extensive archives of documents, maps, photographs, films, clipping files and other resources and is open to the public during designated hours.

Warren County Historical Society, Museum, and Glendower State Memorial [OH]

Description

The Society maintains a museum and Glendower State Memorial. The Museum is housed in Harmon Hall, a three story, 28,000-square-foot brick building. It contains artifacts from prehistoric eras to the mid-20th century. Glendower is a restored Greek Revival mansion, one of the five built during the 19th century. John Milton Williams, a framer of the state's constitution, employed Amos Bennett to build the rectangular central unit in the 1840s. The 13 rooms include a formal drawing room with two fireplaces. All rooms, furnished with Empire and early Victorian style pieces, reflect the skilled local craftsmen and gracious living of the residents.

A website specifically for the Historical Society can be found here.

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

Westport Historical Society and Harris Kearney House Museum [MO]

Description

In 1855, Colonel John Harris and his wife Henrietta built a two-story, all brick, Greek revival house "on a ridge just east of town." The home was known as the "Mansion House." Today, it houses the Society's headquarters and serves as a visitor center and house museum.

The society offers tours, educational programs, research library access, and occasional recreational and educational events; the house offers tours.

Seneca Falls Historical Society and Museum [NY]

Description

The Society's Museum is located in a structure dating back to 1823. The building was part of a 10-acre estate with carriage house, tool shed, vineyard, garden, and orchard. The Mynderse Family lived there until 1875 when Mrs. Leroy Partridge purchased the house and began an extensive remodeling and updating that changed the two story dwelling into the three-story, 23-room, Queen Anne style home that stands today. The original Gothic Revival tool shed is now the "Bee Hive," a replica of a general store , located behind the house. Also located in the back yard is the Town Clock that was once on top of the Hoskins Block and moved to the grounds by Texaco Oil in October 1968. The first floor of the Museum shows a combination of the original furnishings of the house as the Partridge and Becker families lived here, as well as reproductions and decorations both complimentary to the time period and from historical events in Seneca Falls.

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

Saugerties Historical Society and Kiersted House Museum [NY]

Description

The Society operates the historic Kiersted House as its headquarters and museum. The Kiersted House is architecturally significant as an example of early-18th and 19th-century local building craft and practices. The original builder is still unknown, but the first recorded owner of the homestead was Hiskia Dubois in 1724, and it was purchased by Dr. Christopher Kiersted in 1773. The House displays changing exhibits on local history.

The society offers occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events); the museum offers exhibits.