Fort Randall Military Post

Description

The Fort Randall Military Post, named for Colonel Daniel Randall, served many functions from the time it was built in 1856 until the fort was abandoned in 1892. During that time, the post provided military protection to settlements along the Missouri River, escorted many wagon trains and survey parties, and served as the central military supply depot for the area. Today, all that remains of the fort buildings that housed approximately 500 men are several foundations which have been excavated, the Fort Randall Post Cemetery, and the Fort Randall Chapel. A self-interpretive trail leads visitors around the site. The Fort Randall Visitor Center tells the history of the fort and its occupants.

The site offers exhibits.

Princeton Battlefield State Park and Clarke House [NJ]

Description

On January 3, 1777, the peaceful winter fields and woods of Princeton Battlefield were transformed into the site of what is considered to be the fiercest fight of its size during the American Revolution. During this desperate battle, American troops under General George Washington surprised and defeated a force of British Regulars. Coming at the end of "The Ten Crucial Days" which saw the well-known night crossing of the Delaware River and two battles in Trenton, the Battle of Princeton gave Washington his first victory against the British Regulars on the field. The battle extended over a mile away to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Also in the park stands the Clarke House. Built by Thomas Clarke in 1772, the house was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of Princeton. General Hugh Mercer was mortally wounded nearby and was carried to the Clarke House, where he died nine days after the battle.

A second website for the site, maintained by the Princeton Battlefield Area Preservation Society, can be found here.

The site offers tours, lectures, and occasional recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Cape Disappointment State Park and Lewis and Clark Interpretative Center

Description

Cape Disappointment State Park is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. The park offers 27 miles of ocean beach, two lighthouses (the North Head Lighthouse and the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse), the Victorian Colbert House Museum, an interpretive center, and hiking trails. Visitors enjoy beachcombing and exploring the area's rich natural and cultural history. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center stands high on the cliffs of the park, 200 feet above the pounding Pacific surf. A series of mural-sized "timeline" panels guides visitors through the westward journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition using sketches, paintings, photographs, and the words of Corps members themselves. The center also features short film presentations, a gift shop and a glassed-in observation deck with views of the river, headlands, and sea. Additional displays focus on local maritime and military history.

The park offers exhibits, tours, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Caumsett State Historic Park

Description

In 1921 Marshall Field III purchased 1,750 acres of Lloyd Neck to create one large estate. He named the land after its Matinecock Indian name, Caumsett, which means "place by a sharp rock." Field created a self-sufficient English-style estate as a combination country club, hunting preserve, and home, complete with its own water and electrical supply. When the estate was finished, it had facilities for every sport except golf.

The site offers tours and some educational services.

Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site

Description

Following the outbreak of war between the United States and Great Britain in June 1812, Sackets Harbor became the center of American naval and military activity for the upper St. Lawrence Valley and Lake Ontario. In an attempt to destroy the American shipyard, a British-Canadian force launched an attack on May 29, 1813, while the majority of the American forces were attacking Fort George. In December 1814, the Treaty of Ghent officially ended the War of 1812, and the fleet was placed in storage. After the war the earthen fortifications were graded off and the battlefield reverted to farmland.

Today, the site offers tours, demonstrations, exhibits, and occasional living history events, as well as other educational and recreational programs.

Roanoke Island Festival Park [NC]

Description

Roanoke Island Festival Park is a 27-acre state historic site and cultural center celebrating history, education, and the arts. Visitors can step aboard the Elizabeth II, a representative 16th-century sailing vessel; visit with Elizabethan explorers and soldiers in the Settlement Site; tour the Roanoke Adventure Museum, which explores 400 years of Outer Banks history; and view the docudrama, "The Legend of Two-Path."

The park offers exhibits, tours, demonstrations, performances, educational programs, research library access, and recreational and educational events (including living history events).

Fremont Indian State Park and Museum [UT]

Description

Visitors to the Museum can discover artifacts, petroglyphs, and pictographs left behind by the Fremont Indians. During construction of Interstate 70, the largest known Fremont Indian village was uncovered. This museum preserves treasures from the site, including pottery, baskets, and arrowheads.

The site offers a short film, exhibits, tours, workshops, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum [UT]

Description

The Museum houses the largest collection of Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) pottery on display in the Four Corners Region and allows visitors to explore an authentic Puebloan village behind the museum. In addition to permanent collections, Edge of the Cedars offers special exhibits, festivals, and events throughout the year. Dynamic exhibits at Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum feature outstanding photography, fine art, current topics in archaeology, and contemporary Native American crafts. Festivals, programs, and special events promote traditional values through storytelling, craft workshops, and an Indian art exhibit.

The site offers exhibits, workshops and classes, and occasional recreational and educational events.

Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park Museum [UT]

Description

Camp Floyd / Stagecoach Inn State Park Museum is Utah's link with the Civil War. The quiet streets of Fairfield hold the secrets of 3,500 troops, nearly one-third of the entire U.S. Army at that time, which were brought to Camp Floyd to suppress the rumored rebellion in Utah. With no rebellion taking place, the troops were recalled in 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War. The museum houses a collection of artifacts and documents used by the soldiers of Johnston's Army. Interpretive exhibits display these items along with historic photos, describing the history and activity of Camp Floyd. Visitors can see bullets, currency, uniform insignia, and more. The Stagecoach Inn is fully restored and houses antique furnishing of the time period. The historic Fairfield District Schoolhouse is available for school groups to enjoy an authentic one-room schoolhouse experience. Fairfield School was constructed in 1898 with federal funds received when Utah became a state in 1896.

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

Crown Point State Scenic Corridor and Vista House [OR]

Description

The Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point). The building was designed to be a place of refreshment and enjoyment of the Columbia Gorge. The octagonal building with its copper dome houses a museum, with interpretive displays of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge.

A second website for this website can be found here.

The site offers exhibits