Union Pacific Railroad Museum [IA]

Description

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum houses one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation. It includes artifacts, photographs, and documents that trace the development of the railroad and the American West. The Union Pacific Collection dates to the mid-1800s, featuring original editions of reports from survey teams that searched for the best land route to join the nation, east to west. Surveying equipment, early rail equipment, and artifacts from the construction of the nation's first transcontinental railroad tell the story of one of the world's construction marvels.

The site offers exhibits.

Big Horn County Historical Society and Museum [MT]

Description

The Big Horn County Historical Society and Museum seeks to preserve and protect the history of Big Horn County, MT. To this end, the society operates a museum. The museum includes 23 historic structures on 22-acres of land, previously used as a vegetable farm. The farmhouse and barn are original to the location, while the remaining 21 structures have been transported to the site from within Big Horn County. Three buildings house exhibits, which include horse-drawn vehicles, tractors, early automobiles, and farm machinery.

The society offers exhibits, self-guided tours, and guided tours.

Rock Creek Station and Stricker Homesite [ID]

Description

In 1864, Ben Holladay was awarded a contract to deliver mail from Salt Lake City to Walla Walla, WA. Rock Creek became a "home station," where stage drivers and attendants lived while they were off-duty and where passengers could buy a meal or a night's lodging. The original station consisted of a lava-rock building that served as a hotel and barn. In 1865 a store was built at the site. A small community grew up around the business, which also became a social center.

The site offers tours.

Ellicott City Station [MD]

Description

Completed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1831, this National Historic Landmark is the oldest railroad station in America. The site showcases the people who built and operated America's first railroad, tells stories of soldiers and citizens caught in the turmoil of the Civil War, and highlights the clash of technology that transformed America's transportation systems from roads to rails.

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

Steering Oar

Description

To navigate the Kansas River in the 1820s, you needed the right equipment—a keelboat. Curators and experts at the Kansas Museum of History look at the history behind a steering oar which helped a fur trader's keelboat stay the course on the mighty Kaw.

Teaching Strategies for Museums: Graphic Organizers Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 12/16/2008 - 12:06
Description

This brief lecture explores the use of graphic organizers to help students prepare for, gather information during, and synthesize information after a visit to a museum.

Lincoln's Biography, Part Three: Springfield, the Law, and the Whig Party, 1837-1843

Description

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, details several years in Abraham Lincoln's life, including his acquisition of a law license, his support of moving Illinois's capital, his continued political campaigning, and his marriage to Mary Todd. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Two: Indian Fighting and Politics in New Salem, 1831-1836."

To view this documentary, select "Springfield, the Law, and the Whig Party, 1837-1843" under "Multimedia Slideshows."