Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site [AK]

Description

The Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site preserves the site at which nine African American students entered the Little Rock Central High School for the first time on September 23, 1957. Their right to do so, determined under the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision, proved a national symbol of the end of segregation in public schools. Despite the legality of the situation, desegregation was still highly inflammatory to many. The students had previously been turned away by the Arkansas State Guard before federal troops were deployed to escort them to and from the school.

The site offers interactive exhibits, captioned audio-visual programs, oral history listening stations, 30-minute guided group tours of the high school, gardens, Junior Ranger activities, Trail of Tears guided bicycle tours, student educational programs, teacher workshops for credit, school outreach presentations, and a traveling trunk. Tours of the school require two weeks advance notice, and groups must include 10 or more individuals. The high school is still in use. As a result, visitors may not tour the school without a guide. The website offers oral history videos, a pre-visit booklet, and lesson plans.

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park [OH] Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/08/2008 - 13:36
Description

The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park celebrates the history and accomplishments of Wilber Wright (1867-1912), Orville Wright (1871-1948), and Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906). Other topics addressed include changes in Air Force aviation technology. Sights include two interpretive centers; the Wright brothers' printing office, styled to period; a Wright brothers' bicycle shop; the brothers' third airplane, built in 1905; the Huffman Prairie Flying Field; and Dunbar's final residence. The Wright brothers are best known for creating the world's first successful airplane, while Dunbar was an African American poet celebrated for his 1896 poem "Lyrics of a Lowly Life."

The park offers two introductory films; exhibits; period rooms; guided tours of the Wright Cycle Company building, Wright-Dunbar Village, and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field; guided bicycle tours; children's programs; curriculum-based educational programs; and Junior Ranger activities. Tours of the Wright Cycle Company building are available on request only, and reservations are required for groups. Reservations are required for all school programs. The website offers an interactive timeline.

George Washington Birthplace National Monument [VA]

Description

Visit the house where George Washington, first President of the US and commander of the Continental Army, was born and spent his early years. The house burned in 1779 although its foundation survived. The home was rebuilt in the 1930's and now contains pieces from the Colonial era.

The site offers tours for school group as well as Virginia SOL-based educational programs (grades K-7). In addition to history education programs the site also offers environmental education programs on grounds. Outreach programs can be arranged during the winter months. Curriculum materials can be downloaded free of charge for teachers to use both before and after their visit.

Fort Davis National Historic Site [TX]

Description

The Fort Davis National Historic Site consists of a surviving frontier Indian Wars fort, used between 1854 and 1891. The soldiers of the fort sought to protect travelers along the San Antonio-El Paso Road and the Chihuahua Trail from Native American attack. The Comanche and Apache peoples proved to be the greatest concern for the fort. Five structures on site have been returned to their 1880s appearances, and are fully furnished. Visitors can also explore 20 other buildings and more than 50 ruins.

The site offers a 15-minute introductory film, period rooms, self-guided tours, one- to three-hour educational programs, costumed interpreters, audio programming, Junior Ranger activities, traveling trunks, hiking trails, and a picnic site. Junior Ranger activity booklets are available in large print and in braille. Reservations are required for school groups. The website offers curricula.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park [WV]

Description

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park presents living history interpretations of past area events and daily life. Harpers Ferry events include the 1859 John Brown's Raid, constant Civil War action, the Niagara Movement's second conference, military industrialization, and the convergence of two railroads and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal circa 1835.

The park offers exhibits, trails, guided tours, self-guided tours, self-guided educational hikes and scavenger hunts, guided educational programs which meet state educational standards, educator workshops, Junior Ranger activities, and picnic areas. The website offers historic photographs, curricula, and a lesson plan.

Natchez National Historical Park [MS]

Description

Natchez, Mississippi, is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and offers visitors a chance to explore life in the antebellum south. Natchez is home to the William Johnson House, the Cypress Swamp, and the Melrose Mansion, and so offers visitors a comprehensive view of southern culture, from the life of former slave William Johnson to the life of wealthy southerner John McMurran.

The historical park offers guided tours, field trip programs, and exhibits in the park visitor center. The website offers visitor information, curriculum materials for teachers, and a history of Natchez. In order to contact the park via email, use the "contact us" link located on the left side of the webpage.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument [FL]

Description

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument contains the original Castillo de San Marcos, a fortification built by the Spanish to defend their position in America. It is the only remaining 17th-century fort in North America. The star-shaped "bastion system" of the architecture was an adaptation to cannon warfare. The monument presents the story of several groups involved in the fort's history, including the Timucuan, the Seminole, the Apache, Spaniards, African Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, Minorcans, and U.S. citizens. Interpreters in period dress discuss life in the fort.

The monument offers a 25-minute introductory film, exhibits, self-guided fortification tours, interpretive talks, re-enactors, weaponry demonstrations, Junior Ranger programs, and a green suitable for picnics. The upper gun deck is not wheelchair accessible. Tour brochures are available in English, Spanish, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Dutch, and Russian. The website offers historical photographs, vocabulary, a map study, and other educational materials.

Hot Springs National Park [AR]

Description

The Hot Springs National Park preserves the history surrounding Hot Springs, Arkansas. The area has been a destination for individuals of all classes seeking relaxation and revitalization of health for more than 200 years. Sights include the historic Fordyce Bathhouse, in operation between 1915 and 1962, and the springs themselves.

The park offers a 15-minute introductory film, guided tours, guided tours for students, self-guided tours, traveling trunks, Junior Ranger activities, scenic mountain roads, a 9-minute film depicting the traditional bath routine, the opportunity to take a bath in the hot springs, 26 miles of trails, and picnic sites. The NPS warns that many sites in the area claim to be the Hot Springs National Park but are not. When hiking, visitors are asked to remain on the trails. Group tours require at least two weeks advance notice. Architectural models are available for visually impaired visitors. An American Sign Language interpreter can be on site for tours if requested at the time tour reservations are made. The website offers lesson plans.

Homestead National Monument of America [NE]

Description

The Homestead National Monument of America addresses the impact of the Homestead Act of 1862 on agriculture, Native Americans, national land policy, the prairies, industrialization, and immigration. Sights include the 1872 one-room Freeman School, Heritage Center, Education Center, 1867 Palmer Epard Cabin, and restored tallgrass prairie. The cabin presents post-Civil War homestead life. The Freeman School has been restored to an 1870s appearance. Under the Homestead Act, anyone 21 or over and/or the head of a household could claim 160 acres of previously federally owned land as their own private property.

The monument offers an introductory film, interactive exhibits, Freeman School guided tours, trails, curriculum-based programs for students, Scout programs, interactive demonstrations, distance learning opportunities, and Junior Ranger activities. The school is open for tours on request. Classes can host a day of lessons within the Freeman School. The website offers historical photographs, videos of farming demonstrations, audio files of Abraham Lincoln's words, a curriculum guide, a math activity booklet, a coloring book, dot-to-dot activities, and a suggested reading list for students.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site [GA]

Description

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is located in Atlanta, GA, at the site of King's birth. The home has been preserved in much the same state as during King's childhood years, and is open to visitors year round by appointment.

The historic site features exhibits on Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, as well as field trip programs, guided tours, and traveling trunks. The website offers visitor information, a history of the home, a brief biography of Martin Luther King Jr., a calendar of events, and resources for teachers including curriculum guides.