Deutschheim State Historic Site [MO]

Description

The Pommer-Gentner house, built in 1840, is a sterling example of high-style German neoclassicism and is furnished to reflect the earlier settlement period of the 1830s and 1840s. Behind the house, visitors will tour a period garden and a small half-timbered barn containing an exhibit of 19th-century tools. The Strehly house, built in stages from 1842 to 1869, has a traditional German vernacular front. It once contained a full-service printing company that produced a German-language newspaper. About 1857, Carl Strehly built a winery next to the house that today displays one of a few remaining carved wine casks in the Midwest. Grapevines, planted by the Strehlys in the 1850s, can still be seen running the length of the backyard. Deutschheim's varied collections of German Americana are represented by galleries of changing artifacts and photographs.

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

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.

State Capital Publishing Museum [OK]

Description

The Museum is located in the historic State Capital Publishing Company building constructed in 1902. This building was the fourth home of the State Capital Company which was organized in 1889 just prior to the first Oklahoma Land Run. Inside the museum is a large collection of original furnishings and printing equipment. Museum exhibits include the history of the State Capital Company, printing technology and other aspects of life from the territorial and early statehood era.

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

Printer

Description

Pete Stinely, a printer at Colonial Williamsburg, talks about the work of printing according to colonial-era practices.

The Jefferson Blog

Description

Bill Barker, a Jefferson scholar and interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, discusses the political philosophy of Thomas Jefferson, in relation to the launch of a new blog publishing Jefferson quotes on the Colonial Williamsburg website.

Note: this podcast is no longer available. To view a transcript of the original podcast, click here.

The Bodleian Plate

Description

Architectural historian Carl Lounsbury describes the Bodleian Plate, a copper plate preserving an illustration of Williamsburg in 1747. The Plate has been used as reference in the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.

To listen to this podcast, select "All 2008 podcasts," and scroll to the August fourth program.

Cultural Readings: Colonization and Print in the Americas

Image
Image for Cultural Readings: Colonization and Print in the Americas
Annotation

Texts about the Americas produced in Europe from the 15th through the 19th centuries are examined in this well-organized online exhibit. Over 100 images of printed texts, drawings, artwork, and maps from published and unpublished sources are arranged into six thematic categories. Categories are named: "Promotion and Possession," "Viewers and the Viewed," "Print and Native Cultures," "Religion and Print," "New World Lands in Print," and "Colonial Fictions, Colonial Histories."

Five scholarly essays (5,000 to 7,000 words each) contextualize the documents. A bibliography and list of links accompany the presentation. A visually attractive, thoughtfully arranged site that explores connections between colonization and representation.

The Ben Franklin Story, Part One Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/18/2008 - 13:32
Description

Don Vitale of Archiving Early America narrates an overview of Benjamin Franklin's early life and his scientific, social, and inventive accomplishments prior to the Revolutionary War.

Captioned and uncaptioned versions of the film are available.